EU Development Assistance

HC 1680, Sixteenth Report of Session 2010-12 - Volume I: Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:

House of Commons - International Development Committee

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Price: £15.50

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The UK spends approximately £1.23 billion each year on aid through the European Union (EU), approximately 16% of the UK's total aid budget. Only 46% of this aid, however, goes to low income countries - a figure that 'EU Development Assistance (HC 1680)' reports as 'unacceptable'.

Turkey has consistently been in the top five recipients of European Commission aid as has Serbia. The Committee is calling on the UK Government to press for funding to be diverted, away from higher middle income countries bordering Europe, to give greater help to the poorest people in the world.

In order to make this happen, the MPs say Ministers must challenge and change the definition of Official Development Assistance (ODA). It appears to be being used as a way of fudging the figures to help other European countries meet the target for 0.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be given as aid.

The Committee recognises that there are a number of advantages to giving aid through the EU but identifies a number of problems with the way EU Development Assistance works.

Overall, the European Commission has improved its performance over the last decade and has recently proposed further improvements to development policy in An Agenda for Change.

Extent	112 pages	ISBN	9780215043948
Size	A4	Price	£15.50
Format	Paperback	Published	27 Apr 2012
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges