Tough Scrutiny of EU Aid One Week before UN MDG Summit (16 September 2008)

 2015-Watch report released – Call for Greater Focus on Results

Brussels, 16/09/08, (Alliance2015): Alliance2015, the network of leading European NGOs, will present its rigorous review of European development aid today to the European Parliament at a public hearing at 2pm (Room ASP 1E3).

The fifth annual 2015-Watch report measures the contribution of the European Commission (EC) development aid programmes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs, set up with clear and measurable targets to fight poverty and to be reached by 2015, will be at the centre of the high-level UN Summit on 25 September. With just one week to go expectations of the Summit and Europe’s role in it are high.

“While we found encouraging progress, there is still a long way to go to ensure that EC aid is working towards achieving the MDGs”, said Vagn Berthelsen, President of Alliance2015. “Two weeks ago at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra, Ghana, we saw Europe at its best – showing leadership, working together, being ambitious and looking for impact. We need to see this side of Europe more often. Political leadership on the MDGs cannot wait – we need it now”.

This year’s report identifies several major challenges for the EC’s aid programmes:

Firstly, the EC does not sufficiently measure the results of its massive aid spending. This is especially the case for aid provided through budget support and when providing aid in this form, the report finds inadequate consideration is given to issues such as democracy and human rights. 2015-Watch also finds low levels of attention to health, education and hunger. “In 2009, the EC needs to demonstrate that 20% of its aid is allocated to basic health and education and the European Parliament should hold the Commission to account on this mutually agreed target,” added Mr. Berthelsen.

Secondly, the issue of democratic accountability at EU level and the lack of parliamentary scrutiny over aid programs to Africa are also raised centrally in the report. MEP Gay Mitchell, who will host the meeting, said: “We have made positive contributions in overseeing some aid programmes. We want to have a much greater involvement and provide the same democratic oversight of all programmes.”

Finally, 2015-Watch also calls on the EC to support civil society organisations in the South so that they can play their rightful role in monitoring development aid and most especially budget support. While the EC recognizes the role of civil society as an essential partner in poverty eradication and development, much greater support is needed in order to build the capacity of civil society so that it in turn can strengthen accountability in the EC’s partner countries.

Commenting on the report Koos Richelle, Director General of Europeaid, said: “rather than concentrating on the contribution of a single donor to the MDG's the focus should change to the total support that a recipient country receives from all donors together. That would be in line with the shift from supply- to demand-driven aid.” 

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Notes to the Editor:

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG), agreed in 2000 and to be reached by 2015, include measurable targets ranging from halving absolute poverty and ensuring access to primary education for all children to reducing child mortality and improving maternal health. The next UN MDG Summit will be held on 25 September in New York to monitor the progress, renew the commitments and to set out concrete plans and practical steps for action.

Alliance2015, founded in 2000, is a strategic network of currently six European NGOs, engaged in humanitarian and development activities and working together to reach the Millennium Development Goals. It cooperates at the programme level in 81 developing countries and at the policy level in Europe. Members include Concern Worldwide (Ireland), Hivos (Netherlands), Ibis (Denmark), Welthungerhilfe (Germany), CESVI (Italy) and People in Need (Czech Republic).

Europe External Policy Advisors (EEPA) provided the research for the publication, the author is Mirjam van Reisen.

The new 2015-Watch report covering general budget support, democratic accountability, ownership and civil society engagement can be found on the Alliance2015 website 

Contact:

Vagn Berthelsen, President Alliance2015 and Director Ibis  (Tel.+45 244 08640)

Alliance2015
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