EU promise extra €2bn for water and sanitation
EU Agenda for Action on the MDGs promise aid increase for water and sanitation in Africa, but fails to specify who will contribute and how
EU leaders pledge €2bn increase in funding
24 June 2008
Meeting in Lisbon for the European Union Council, 27 Heads of State agreed the 'EU Agenda for Action on the Millennium Development Goals', outlining how they would meet their aid commitments and drive progress on meeting the MDGs. The statement included an important commitment to increase aid for water and sanitation to Sub-Saharan Africa by €2bn each year by 2010
Whilst a positive step forward from European leaders, the agreement did not, however, say who would provide this money and how, meaning that strong efforts from civil society will be needed to see that it is delivered.
The agreement also included agreements to deliver the 2005 commitment that EU member states should provide 0.56% of their Gross National Income in aid by 2010, and to increase efforts on poverty, hunger, education, health, and gender equality.
Read the 'EU Agenda for Action on the MDGs'