Brussels, 02/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Council's 2015 annual report on trends in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the EU and its member states was endorsed by the Council of the EU, without debate, on Tuesday 26 May. This confirms the EU's leading role in this field, despite stagnation in the amount of assistance provided last year (see EUROPE 11291)
With €58.2 billion earmarked in 2014 (as opposed to €56.9 billion the previous year) the EU has maintained its position as the world's biggest donor. Member states and the European Commission estimate that the EU's ODA would probably continue to increase in 2015. The Council subsequently reaffirmed its leadership in this field, as well as its commitment to continuing to provide development assistance as an EU priority, particularly in the context of the post-2015 global programme context.
The Council conclusions on this annual report complete those adopted that day on post-2015 development funding in the perspective of the UN Addis Ababa conference (13-16 July), which reaffirmed the EU's commitment to attain the goal of collectively allocating 0.7% of its GNP to ODA in the calendar of the post-2015 global programme for sustainable development and eradicating poverty (see EUROPE 11322).
ONE is an NGO involved in raising awareness about the fight against extreme poverty and disease prevention, particularly in Africa. It welcomed this commitment but is urging EU member states “to achieve the long-standing promise” by 2020. The NGO is disappointed that, whilst recognising the need to focus assistance on countries that need it most, the Council is not ambitious enough. Valentina Barbagallo, speaking on behalf of the ONE organisation, explained: “The best bet to support the world's poorest is for the EU to allocate half of its collective aid to the poorest countries. Belgium and Ireland have already led the way by publicly committing to this target, which has also been endorsed by the European Parliament” (for the EP's positions, see EUROPE 11319). (Aminata Niang)