The European Union's development chief may be forced to name and shame France, Germany and Italy for not living up to their aid commitments, contributing to a roughly $17 billion funding gap this year. Andris Piebalgs warned in January he would clearly identify EU countries that failed to meet their aid commitments. "In 2010, the EU aid disbursements are likely to further grow to approximately 54-55 billion euros ($74-75 billion)," a leaked EU document seen by Reuters shows. "Many member states will most probably not reach their... aid targets. A gap of 12-13 billion euros remains."
The European Union's development chief may be forced to name and shame France, Germany and Italy for not living up to their aid commitments, contributing to a roughly $17 billion funding gap this year.
Andris Piebalgs warned in January he would clearly identify EU countries that failed to meet their aid commitments.
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"In 2010, the EU aid disbursements are likely to further grow to approximately 54-55 billion euros ($74-75 billion)," a leaked EU document seen by Reuters shows. "Many member states will most probably not reach their... aid targets. A gap of 12-13 billion euros remains."
The paper did not name France, Germany or Italy, but an OECD report last month said they were among the EU's worst performers.
The paper also warned the shortfall threatens the EU's standing in climate talks, which this year aim to build on the weak accord reached in Copenhagen in December.
"There is a risk of conflict with new financial commitments the EU has taken in the framework of the Copenhagen accord," warns the paper.
The EU has pledged to urgently channel 7.3 billion euros in "climate aid" to poor countries over three years to help them cut emissions from industry and tackle climate impacts on crops.
That would plug a gap until a global climate deal is struck for the years after 2013.
Article continues: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62356C20100304
