Brussels, 28/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - By adopting the report by Michael Gahler on 23 June in its first reading (co-decision), on the draft regulation on external EU aid access, the European Parliament has largely given its support by strengthening it. The European Commission proposal aims to improve the efficiency of development aid. To ensure the first beneficiaries of this aid are the people in developing countries, the Commission is proposing that the aid is “untied” and not conditioned by buying goods or services from the donor country. Untying aid has to be used by “highlighting the strengthening of the position of local and regional goods and service providers in developing countries, the amendments adopted by the plenary affirm. Others highlight the need for contract beneficiaries to respect international social and environmental standards. The Parliament is also calling on Eurostat (which will regularly go to countries involved for “dialogue visits” and “detailed inspection visits” and regularly produce reports on the quality of the data notified by Member States. The rapporteur considers that all improvements with EU aid should make an important contribution to alleviating poverty in the countries concerned. Gahler also notes that it is now up to the Council to play its role so that they can go to the UN next September in New York, with a positive intermediate balance sheet.