Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position relating to the achievement of the millennium development goals by each member state of the European Union and by the Union in its entirety; the estimated date by which each member state and the EU as a whole will have achieved these goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18475/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Following an initiative of the then Irish EU Presidency, member states at the April 2004 meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, agreed to submit individual reports to the Commission on their efforts towards implementation of the millennium development goals, MDGs. Reports were submitted by member states in the second half of 2004 and the Commission subsequently presented the Council with a package of communications outlining proposals for a consolidated EU contribution to the MDGs. These proposals set out three focal areas for a contribution to the UN summit to review the MDGs in New York in September next: financing for development, policy coherence and Africa.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council, at its meeting on 24 May 2005, adopted a number of conclusions on the following issues. On volume of aid, a new collective EU target was agreed whereby member states which have not yet reached a level of 0.51% ODA-GNI undertake to reach that level by 2010. The new EU member states have agreed to reach a level of 0.17% ODA-GNI by 2010. In addition, member states undertake to achieve the 0.07% ODA-GNI target by 2015, while the new member states will strive to increase their ODA-GNI to 0.33% by 2015. On policy coherence, the EU recognises the importance of non-development policies for assisting developing countries in achieving the millennium development goals. The EU will make a specific effort to promote and enhance policy coherence for development in the context of the global partnership for development under millennium development goal eight and in support of partner countries' own policies and in compliance with international obligations. Focus on Africa means the EU considers the development of Africa a priority and will strengthen its efforts to support African countries to reach the millennium development goals. The EU will strengthen its cooperation with the UN and other international partners to that end. The Union agreed to increase its assistance to Africa and will provide collectively at least 50% of an agreed increase in ODA resources to the African continent.

Ireland participated actively in the discussions which led to the Council decisions. I very much welcome the outcome of the meeting. The rate of progress towards development is slower in Africa than in any of the other regions of the world. Ireland's primary aid focus has always been on Africa and this will continue to be the case. Over three quarters of all of the Government's spending on aid is directed to the world's poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The UN September summit is not only the first major progress review of the achievement of the MDGs, but is also a unique opportunity for the world to come together and agree on a collective response to the multiple needs, threats and challenges which we all face, ranging from extreme poverty, endemic disease and climate change, to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, genocide and civil war. As the world's largest aid donor, the EU has a major role to play in the achievement of the MDGs and in providing strong leadership towards their implementation. Following the Council's landmark decision on 24 May 2005, I believe that the Union is clearly showing its intention to provide that leadership.

The GAERC conclusions of 24 May 2005 also underlined the primary responsibility of developing countries for their development and the crucial importance of national ownership for development-supported, comprehensive and coherent national poverty reduction strategies bold enough to meet the MDGs' target by 2015.

Further details of the Council conclusions of 24 May 2005 may be seen at www.consilium.eu while the Commission communications of 12 April 2005 on speeding up progress towards the millennium development goals, financing for development and aid effectiveness, policy coherence for development, and the EU report on Millennium Development Goals 2000-2004: EU Contribution to the Review of the Millennium Development Goals at the UN 2005 High Level Event may be accessed on the website of the European Commission at www.europa.eu.int/comm/development/index_en.htm.