The EU wants to strengthen its partnership with the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to accelerate the achievement of the UN’s Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This is reflected in the conclusions adopted without debate on 20 May by the EU Council, which also reflect the EU’s commitment to taking a geopolitical approach to development in order to reap the benefits of its involvement as a major donor (see EUROPE 12905/3, 12904/8).
The EU and its Member States are determined to promote ambitious international partnerships and are committed to finding joint multilateral solutions to global challenges, says the Council.
“In light of the intensification of geopolitical rivalries and increasing global competition, the Council stresses the need to strengthen effective multilateralism and to collectively promote sustainable international partnerships based on shared values, human rights, gender equality and mutual respect” the conclusions say.
The Council calls on the Commission, the European External Action Service and the Member States “to respond to the specific needs of LDCs through the effective implementation of these partnerships to support the acceleration of the implementation of the SDGs”.
Member States reaffirm their commitment to collectively reach the target of allocating 0.20% of EU GNI in official development assistance to LDCs by 2030.
See the text: https://aeur.eu/f/1s3 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)