- The European Union (EU)'s development commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, has called on member states to keep to the promise of fighting hunger and poverty in the world and in ensuring that the region remains the leader in helping Africa towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Commissioner Piebalgs further urged member states to draw up annual plans for increasing development aid and using the money more effectively.
"Europe must remain the main and most credible leader in the fight against poverty," he said. "We have to respect our promises of more and better aid."
Presenting the EU recommendations on how countries can meet the development goals, he said such plans should be realistic and verifiable, further reminding that the commission recommends countries submit their new plans before this year's UN summit on development goals, where the world leaders are expected to make new commitments to fighting hunger, poverty and disease at the meeting in September.
The EU is the world's largest aid donor, accounting for more than half of all official development assistance. The EU countries have pledged to increase aid to 0.7 percent of gross income by 2015, but most countries are not on track to meet these goals.
The EU has also pledged to increase aid to Africa more than other development aid in a concerted effort to fight poverty on the continent. Latest statistics by the OECD shows that, while most EU countries are not on track to meet overall aid pledges, aid to Africa is indeed on the increase.
Close to 2 billion people in the world are said to be living in abject poverty, with sub-Saharan Africa said to be one of the regions lagging behind the rest of the world. But despite increased EU aid to Africa, development cooperation is still to little to meet the MDGs in Africa.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español