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Post 2015: Global Action for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future

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CHApTER THREE<br />

3<br />

The MDGs<br />

became a central<br />

reference point <strong>for</strong><br />

the development<br />

policies of the EU<br />

<strong>an</strong>d its Member<br />

States soon after<br />

their adoption.<br />

46<br />

THE EuROpEAn unIOn<br />

AnD THE mDgs<br />

The size, geographical reach <strong>an</strong>d partnership<br />

dimension of the Europe<strong>an</strong> union’s aid<br />

programme makes it a <strong>for</strong>midable player in<br />

global development. the Eu institutions are<br />

unique in that they provide direct support<br />

to developing countries <strong>an</strong>d play a ‘federating<br />

role’ vis-à-vis the 27 member States […]. the Eu<br />

Institutions m<strong>an</strong>age a large volume of oDa. based<br />

on its uSD 12.7 billion gr<strong>an</strong>t programme alone, in<br />

2010 the Eu was the third largest Dac member.<br />

(oEcD, 2012, p.13) 21<br />

as a major actor in the Development assist<strong>an</strong>ce<br />

committee (Dac) of the org<strong>an</strong>isation <strong>for</strong><br />

Economic co-operation <strong>an</strong>d Development (oEcD),<br />

the Europe<strong>an</strong> union’s support <strong>for</strong> the mDGs is<br />

particularly import<strong>an</strong>t <strong>for</strong> their success. this<br />

chapter looks at the Eu’s contribution to the mDGs,<br />

both of its institutions <strong>an</strong>d of the Eu as a group of<br />

27 of the world’s richer nations.<br />

as is apparent from the Europe<strong>an</strong> Consensus<br />

on Development (Eu, 2005) <strong>an</strong>d the more recent<br />

Agenda <strong>for</strong> Ch<strong>an</strong>ge (Foreign affairs council, 2012),<br />

EuropE<strong>an</strong> rEport on DEvElopmEnt 2013<br />

the mDGs became a central reference point <strong>for</strong> the<br />

development policies of the Eu <strong>an</strong>d its member<br />

States soon after their adoption. Since 2000 the Eu<br />

has consistently provided around 50–60% of global<br />

oDa <strong>an</strong>d has helped to adv<strong>an</strong>ce the international<br />

development agenda as well as encouraging others<br />

to contribute resources <strong>an</strong>d political will. the Eu<br />

<strong>an</strong>d several member States have played <strong>an</strong> import<strong>an</strong>t<br />

role in the paris–accra–bus<strong>an</strong> process on aid <strong>an</strong>d<br />

development effectiveness 22 .the Eu increased oDa<br />

each year <strong>an</strong>d by 2008 it looked likely to meet the<br />

target of providing 0.7% of Gross national Income<br />

(GnI) by <strong>2015</strong>. Since then however, progress has<br />

been more disappointing with the Eu as a whole<br />

reaching a peak of only 0.44% of GnI by 2010, well<br />

below its own interim target of 0.51% <strong>for</strong> that year.<br />

While a few individual countries still expect to reach<br />

the 0.7% target, the Eu overall now seems unlikely<br />

to meet its pledge despite continued commitments<br />

to do so (Europe<strong>an</strong> council, october 2012) 23 .<br />

the Eu has also played a leading role in the<br />

international debate on strengthening the contribution<br />

of policies beyond development cooperation<br />

21 this quote refers to the aid programme m<strong>an</strong>aged by the Europe<strong>an</strong> commission on behalf of the Eu member States. most member States also<br />

have their own bilateral aid programmes.<br />

22 the 2005 paris Declaration on aid Effectiveness <strong>an</strong>d the follow up discussion in accra (2008) <strong>an</strong>d bus<strong>an</strong> (2011 are discussed in more depth in<br />

chapter 7 (7.3.2 (i)).<br />

23 the case study reports <strong>for</strong> this ErD express a general concern about aid effectiveness <strong>an</strong>d aid levels highlighting lack of harmonization among<br />

donors <strong>an</strong>d the failure to meet the 0.7% oDa/GnI target. the rw<strong>an</strong>da case study is critical about unpredictability of aid flows.

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