In short
The 9th session of the ACP- EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
The Assembly will consider the reports of its Standing Committees on progress made in achieving universal primary education and gender equality in the ACP countries in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Budgetisation of the European Development Fund and Post-conflict rehabilitation in the ACP countries Urgent topics with resolution will cover the situation in Sudan and in the African Great Lakes Region. A debate on the consequences of the tsunami for the ACP countries will also take place. In addition to the statements of the Commission and of the Council, the Question Time and the debates with these two institutions, the Assembly will also hold a debate on the progress of the negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements with Mr Peter Mandelson, Member of the Commission in charge of trade. Within the framework of the debate on the report of the Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment and in view of the adoption of a "Bamako Declaration on the Millennium Development Goals", the Assembly will also listen to Mrs Evelyne Herfkens, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Campaign. For further information, please go to: http://www.europarl.eu.int/intcoop/acp/10_01/default_en.htm
German Ambassador to the UN commits to increasing ODA
A row has erupted between German Finance Minister Hans Eichel and the German Ambassador to the UN Dr Gunter Pleuger. Pleuger has, in a speech to the GA, announced, that Germany would be "increasing ODA to 0,33 % in 2006 and to 0,5 % in 2010. Germany will achieve the 0.7% target in three steps by 2014". He was reprimanded by the Finance Minister, who declared that the Ambassador had made this commitment "auf eigene Rechnung", i.e. on his own account. Eichel pointed out that Germany could and would only increase its ODA if the Federal budget permitted this, which - in light of the current economic situation - seems somewhat unlikely. For the full speech, go to: http://www.germany-un.org/archive/speeches/2005/sp_04_07_05.html
Q and A: The Commission's “MDG Package” (Millennium Development Goals)
The Commission has today approved three Communications on the subject of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals). The documents suggest the Union's joint undertakings for the MDG progress review at the UN's General Assembly in New York in September of this year. The package makes proposals in the areas of Finance for Development, Coherence for Development and Focus on Africa. Commissioner Michel stated that these proposals – if supported by Council and Parliament - will put the EU as the world's largest donor in the political lead. For the complete Q&A document, go to: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/124&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Investing in our future
In addition to the MDG Communications, the Commission has also released information on the Financial Perspectives 2007 to 2013. "Working together to invest in our common future means committing to a certain level of financial support. The Commission's proposal for the next financial plan covers the years 2007 to 2013 and focuses on sustainable growth and competitiveness. This means increasing the Union's competitiveness; boosting the European economy and creating more and better jobs; bringing alive the concept of European citizenship by completing the area of freedom, justice and security; and strengthening the Union's role in the world. All of these touch citizens' lives and should be built on. With a concrete plan to fund them, we can count on a stable future for all of us." For further information on the new Financial Perspectives, go to: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/financial_perspective/index_en.htm
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