“The EU cannot fill the gap left by others. (...) Everyone in the international community must shoulder their responsibility”, declared a European Commission spokesperson on Tuesday 22 April, when asked by Agence Europe about the reduction in official development assistance (ODA).
According to estimates by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), more than half of EU countries will have reduced their ODA by 2024, prompting aid NGOs to call on the EU institutions to react (see EUROPE 13624/6).
Only three Member States have devoted at least 0.7% of their gross national income to ODA, in line with the objective promoted by the United Nations and despite the intensification of the crises and the brutal disengagement of the United States (see EUROPE 13617/5).
“As a leading provider of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, we will remain at the forefront of supporting global efforts to promote sustainable development and tackle crises worldwide”, the spokesman said, without commenting on the budgetary decisions of EU countries.
42% of global ODA and 28% of humanitarian aid is provided by the EU, its Member States and private partners through the ‘Team Europe’ approach. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)