EU governments urged to 'fulfil' their aid commitments

A new report warns that EU governments are failing to provide enough development aid funding on reproductive health and family for the world’s poorest countries.

The findings of the ‘Euromapping 2008’ report, by the German Foundation for World Population (DSW) and the European Parliamentary forum on population and development, were revealed at a Brussels news conference on Monday.

The report says that Greece, Austria, Portugal and Italy have the worst record, with each country spending less than €1 per capita on reproductive health and HIV/Aids in poor countries.

The Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg and the UK are the most generous donors, according to a major study of EU development aid commitments.

Across the EU as a whole, it says official development assistance accounted for 64 per cent of the world’s total in 2007 but, in real terms, this represents a reduction of some €1.6bn.

According to latest data, funding for family planning and basic reproductive health services in poor countries has fallen by 7.8 per cent, a loss of more than €111m.

“This has left millions of people suffering unnecessarily from maternal and infant deaths, unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions,” said Karen Hoehn, DSW deputy executive director.

“EU governments have to put family planning and reproductive health on top of the development agenda. This is the only way we can save the lives of millions of women and children.”

The report coincides with an informal meeting today of EU development cooperation ministers in Bordeaux.

Belgian Socialist MEP Anne van Lancker called on ministers, who will discuss European aid, to “halt this worrying trend.”

She added, “Parliament has called for more funding for maternal health and EU governments repeatedly affirm their commitment to reproductive health. Where is the money to back up this rhetoric?”

Lancker, who chairs parliament’s working group on population and development, said the report highlighted “strong contrasts” in member state commitment towards the issue.

“The message from this study is that governments have got to deliver more when it comes to investment in family planning aid for poor countries. I hope this message will be heard in Bordeaux this week.”

“We MEPs must also try to ensure that access to reproductive health assistance is not forgotten.”

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