Thursday 3 April 2008

Aidwatch discussed in European Parliament

The European Parliament is following up the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness with a report, written by Belgian MEP Johan Van Hecke. The report was presented at the Development Committee meeting on 3 March, and was greeted enthusiastically by other parliamentarians, the EC representative present and CONCORD’s Aidwatch Coordinator Jasmine Burnley.

Jasmine told the committee that CONCORD believes the EU, as the world’s biggest provider of aid, could be much more ambitious and go further in its aid commitments. She said the EU had an obligation to lead the way and set an example for its member states.

The Aidwatch project was then presented, a CONCORD-led initiative on monitoring aid and advocating reform. Given the importance of aid effectiveness this year, leading up to the Accra meeting in the autumn, the next Aidwatch report will focus on issues of quality.

CONCORD’s policy position on aid effectiveness can be seen on the CONCORD website at http://www.concordeurope.org/Files/media/internetdocumentsENG/4_Publications/3_CONCORDs_positions_and_studies/FINAL-EU-Aidwatch-position-Accra-2008---Jan08.doc

The draft EP report is available on the parliament’s website at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/pr/709/709878/709878en.pdf
Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG Policy Officer

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