The role of the European Union in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals MDGs

 The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Glenys KINNOCK( PES , UK )  on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The committee emphasised that poverty reduction through the achievement of the MDGs and the Millennium Declaration must be recognised unambiguously as the overarching framework for EU development policy and that this must be reflected clearly in all relevant policy and legislative proposals. However, it believed that the MDGs should not be seen as a technical matter which could be resolved simply by providing more money without identifying and tackling the underlying causes of poverty.

MEPs commended those Member States that had reached or passed 0.7% GNI, whilst noting the worrying trend set by some to begin a process of decreasing aid levels, as well as abandoning previous commitments on timetables. The committee stressed that, although the EU seemed currently on target for its intermediary objective of 0.39% of GNI for Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2006, there were large disparities in the performance of its Member States. It therefore called on those Members States still lagging behind to commit themselves to a clear timetable and deadlines for reaching the 0.7% target before 2015.

Lastly, the report said that it was an illusion to achieve the MDG of halving poverty and hunger by 2015, providing free education for all and improving access to health care while developing countries spend four times more on repaying debts than they spend on basic social services.