Brussels, 07/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - They European Commission may have responded rapidly in providing €550 billion in 2008 to attenuate the impact of the world food crisis in developing countries, but further measures are necessary if progress towards the millennium goals is not to be compromised, and these measures will be taken very shortly. Confirmation of this was given by José Manuel Barroso at the opening of the G8 Summit in Hokkaido on 7 July when he announced that the Commission intended to propose setting up a new €1 billion fund to support agriculture in developing countries.
The joint proposal from Commissioners Mariann Fischer Boel (Agriculture) and Louis Michel (Development) for an instrument to respond rapidly to spiralling food prices in developing countries will shortly be put to the College of Commissioners for formal approval. “The principle has been clearly agreed. We hope the figure will be one billion. The proposal on the table mentions €1 billion: €750 million in 2008 and €250 million in 2009,” said the Commission spokesman. This measure will require the agreement of both Parliament and Council, he acknowledged, but the Commission feels that it is “financially feasible, politically appropriate and could serve as an example to other international players”.
Barroso's announcement came just as the G8 was in the hot seat for its unkept promises. The leaders of seven African countries (Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania), invited to join the leaders of the richest countries for lunch, pressed their host to honour the commitment made at Gleneagles in 2005 to double their aid for Africa by 2010 (with annual increases of US $50 billion) and the promise made at Heiligendam in 2006 to allocate $60 billion to combating AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (with no exact timetable).
“Inside the G8, the European Community fully accepts its responsibilities as a major aid player, ands is determined to deliver (The Commission) and our member states already deliver 60% of total international overseas development assistance (ODA),” Barroso said. He highlighted that EU commitments, confirmed by the European Council of 20 June, would mean a doubling of European aid to over €66 billion by 2010. With at least half of the collective increase to be allocated to Africa, this would mean the EU was “on track to provide more than 90% of the G8's $25 billion pledge,” Barroso pointed out. But, “we can do better and we must do better,” he added, aware that the regression in European aid in 2007 “is the wrong signal at the wrong time”. For that reason, the Commission was “strongly pushing all EU member states to establish indicative timetables to illustrate how they will meet their agreed targets”. (A.N./transl.rt)