European Council lets down poorest
On June 25-26, the European Council took place in Brussels. EU Heads of State and Government made headway on migration, but they did not increase the EU’s commitment to the fight against extreme poverty.
Tamira Gunzburg, Director of ONE Brussels, said:
“By not stepping up the lacklustre commitments made by EU development ministers back in May, the European Council has failed to demonstrate real political will to end extreme poverty by 2030.
“The EU has so far pledged to spend 0.2% of national income on aid to the poorest countries within the next 15 years – but this represents less than a third of total aid. What is aid for if not for helping the poorest?”
Gunzburg continued:
“It now falls to the EU and its Member States to throw their weight behind ending extreme poverty at next month’s crucial summit in Ethiopia. We can only hope to achieve this goal if we put the poorest and most vulnerable at the centre of our approach from the start – and that means pledging to direct half of aid to the least developed countries without further delay.”
***ENDS***
Notes to editors
- Contact, information &interviews: Tess Uytterhoeven| Media Manager | [email protected] | m: +32 (0)471 89 64 22
- About the EU and its promised aid: In May, the EU development ministers agreed to spend 0.7% of national income on aid, of which 0.2% of national income on aid to the least developed countries, within the next 15 years. ONE is calling on the EU to prioritise least developed countries by directing half of aid towards those countries by 2020, while at the same time increasing overall aid levels to 0.7% of national income.
- ABOUT ONE: ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organisation of nearly 7 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, we raise public awareness and press political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programmes. To learn more, go to one.org.