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The European Commission has approved a package of three Communications on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aiming to speed up progress towards the MDGs by increasing the volume and effectiveness of the development aid provided by the Commission and EU Member States.

The MDGs have become the central theme of global development cooperation efforts. On several occasions, the EU has underlined the importance of the MDG Review this coming September as a decisive opportunity to accelerate progress towards achieving the MDGs. These new proposals would enhance the EU's joint undertakings at the Review.

Commented European Commission President José Manuel Barroso: "2005 is a crucial year for development. As the biggest development aid donor, the EU and its Member States must show ambition and make a united demand for greater, better coordinated investment, striving to ensure that our policies are coherent and serve our development goals."

The package contains specific and ambitious proposals for action in the areas of Finance for Development, Coherence for Development and Focus on Africa. According to EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, these proposals - if supported by the EU Council and the European Parliament - would put the EU, already the world's largest aid donor (over 50% of worldwide official development assistance - ODA), in the political lead, well on its way to achieve the MDG target of 0.7% of GNI for ODA by 2015.

The Luxembourg EU Presidency is aiming for a final decision on the package by the European Council meeting in June 2005, which would enable the EU to contribute actively to the preparation and a successful outcome for the UN summit.

Ministers of Development Cooperation of the 25 EU Member States will have a first round of discussion on the Commission's Communications at the General Affairs and External Relations Council to be held on May 23-24, 2005.

http://www.eu2005.lu/fr/actualites/communiques/2005/04/12Schiltz/index.html

For a more detailed summary of the European Commission's "MDG Package", please visit
http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_4563_en.htm .

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