Europe could have done more in Busan
Posted on 1 December 2011
The world’s biggest aid donor, the European Union, was sidelined at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness taking place in Busan, South Korea from 29 November – 1 December. The EU gives over €53billion a year to developing countries, that’s over 50% of global aid, but it falied to show leadership in Busan.
CONCORD President Justin Kilcullen speaking at a press conference today in Busan said:
“The European Union failed to show leadership at the summit.
“Despite contributing €53billion to development aid a year, the EU allowed a watered down agreement on global aid reform to accommodate geopolitical agendas. European Member States were fragmented and the EU leadership suffered.
We are concerned that several important measures such as co-operation between developing countries -South South cooperation – ended up only being proposed on a voluntary basis as the final outcome document reveals. If the EU had of stepped up its game, Busan could have delivered stronger results for global development."
Oxfam spokesperson Farida Bena said: “This is a time to make the aid the EU gives better, not worse. We’ve not seen any leadership here and are hugely disappointed at the EU’s lack of leadership. The EU has not been constructive – it should have supported efforts to improve the effectiveness of European aid.”
Timo Lappalainen, of Finnish NGO organisation KEPA said: “We European CSOs now have a mountain to climb over to push the EU take an active role and live up to its vision as a responsible global force. Its performance in Busan was so disappointing.”
Civil society organisations from around the world gave a press conference in reaction to the new Busan Partnership
ENDS
Media contacts in Busan CONCORD Communications Officer Daniel Puglisi Daniel.puglisi@concordeurope.org
