Negotiations continue over the Development Cooperation Instrument

Brussels, 20 September 2006 - The latest round of negotiations over the proposed new Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) took place on Tuesday morning in Brussels.

Yesterday's meeting, which brought together representatives from the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission, was the latest stage in a lengthy quest to find agreement over the new regulation which will govern Community development co-operation for the duration of the next financial perspective (2007-2013). Reports from the meeting suggest that one of the major sticking points in these negotiations is the inclusion of specific targets for allocating Community aid in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

On the same day as the trialogue meeting, the European NGO network, Eurostep, organised a round-table meeting on the DCI negotiations, including on the question of aid targets. Discussions which took place during this meeting indicate that there is widespread support for the European Parliament's negotiating position and determination to ensure that the outcome of the ongoing negotiations is the best possible instrument for Community development co-operation.

For more information about the Eurostep meeting, please contact their Secretariat by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it