The new Commission10-01-21
Development aid that eradicates povertyThe EU Commission, together with the member states, is the world’s largest development aid provider. The wealthier member states have pledged 0.70 per cent of their gross national income in aid by 2015 at the latest, while the goal of the new member states is 0.33 per cent. Several countries are far from fulfilling the goals and some member states are even planning to cut their development aid in 2009. Sweden has a good reputation in development aid contexts and the EU Presidency offers an excellent opportunity to convince member states to uphold their pledges of a better quality increased aid; a prerequisite for fulfilling the millennium development goal of halving poverty and hunger by 2015. Sweden must clearly show that it adheres to the 1 per cent of gross national income going to aid, and not to weigh down the aid with payments to other areas than poverty eradication. Policy coherence for developmentThe EU policy for developing countries must be more coherent if it is to contribute to poverty eradication rather than obstructing it. All policy areas must be consistent in contributing to just and sustainable development if the Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved. Poverty will never be eradicated with development aid alone. |
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