EU stalling on aid promises, binding targets needed, says CONCORD as OECD announces global 2010 aid forecast

Figures released today by the OECD show that the EU will not meet its 2010 aid targets. The 2010 aid forecast notes the EU is well off track and will miss its collective target of 0.56% of GNI, agreed in 2005 as an interim benchmark towards achieving the UN goal of 0.7% of GNI by 2015 to finance the Millennium Development Goals.

Despite being hit hard by the effects of the financial crisis, not all member states have missed their targets with Belgium, Spain and the UK having made clear progress. However France and Germany, representing 37% of EU GNI, see their aid levels stagnate at 0.46% and 0.40% respectively, suggesting a lack of political will to deliver and pull their weight on aid commitments.

"EU aid is under threat. Many governments have used the financial crisis as an excuse to slash their aid budgets, cutting off those in the developing world who are most affected", said Rilli Lappalainen, CONCORD Board Member.

With this summer's Millennium Development Goals review summit fast approaching, the EU and its member states need to demonstrate a real resolve to combat world poverty by meeting their commitments.

"Without real increases in aid, we will not meet the MDGs", said Gideon Rabinowitz, chair of the AidWatch advocacy group

"EU member states must show real political commitment to delivering on their aid promises by adopting binding national timetables setting out how they will meet the 0.7% target by 2015" said Rabinowitz. "They must also agree a new set of EU level interim benchmarks against which their progress can be measured".

CONCORD is the European confederation of Relief and Development NGOs. Its 24 national associations and 18 international networks represent over 1,600 NGOs which are supported by millions of citizens across Europe.