The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council met Wednesday in Brussels, Belgium, to adopt a formal position setting out the bloc’s position ahead of July’s third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and September’s U.N. summit on the post-2015 development agenda.
Last week, Devex reported that disagreements between member states ahead of the council meeting meant European governments could drop their aid pledge — known as the 0.7 percent aid target — to developing countries and that this, in turn, could threaten to derail the EU’s anti-poverty commitment.
While development ministers renewed their collective commitment to achieving the official development assistance target of 0.7 percent of gross national income, a number of international nongovernmental organizations were left cold by the collective EU position, which sees the deadline for achieving this target pushed back from 2020 to 2030 — within the time frame of the post-2015 agenda.
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Richard Jones@richard_devex
In his role as Editorial Director Richard oversees content for digital series, reports and events, leading a talented team of writers and editors, conducting high-level video interviews and moderating panels at events. Previously partnerships editor and an associate editor at Devex, Richard brings to bear 15 years of experience as an editor in institutional communications, public affairs and international development. Based in Barcelona, his development experience includes stints in the Dominican Republic, Argentina and Ecuador, as well as extensive work travel in Africa and Asia.
