Last chance for EU to show leadership in Busan
Posted on 30 November 2011
The European Union’s development Commissioner arrived at the global aid effectiveness summit today in Busan, South Korea.
This comes as China hesitates on a global partnership for development at the forum.
We are calling on EU leaders to make a strong stand for the world’s poor.
CONCORD Comment
“We are deeply disappointed by the aid summit so far. Negotiations are stalling as political games between large powers are dominating talks. But this summit is about working out policies to end world poverty.
Given that 84% of Europeans showed support development aid, despite the financial crisis in a survey just last week, the EU has its citizens on board to stand up for ambitious reforms at the summit.
We believe that Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and EU Member States do care about poverty eradication, but they need to show this to Europe and the world through their commitments here,“ says Justin Kilcullen, CONCORD President.
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon made speeches earlier in the day, with the US signing up to the International Agreement on Transparency Initiative (IATI). **
What do we call for at Busan?**
• Make the €53billion EU aid funds more effective by signing up to reforms at the summit on aid transparency.
• Push for untying aid, so that aid is not tied up with donor countries and gets to the world’s poor.
• Push for time-bound commitments so that there are clear targets and measurable dates to reduce poverty levels.
“China is hesitating on signing up to the global partnership, the question we’re asking is didn’t the EU see this coming,” adds CONCORD President Justin Kilculllen.
