To :

Mr. Tom Kitt, Minister for Development Cooperation, Ireland
Ms. Agnes van Ardenne, Minister for Development Cooperation, Netherlands
Mr. Charles Goerens, Minister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Luxembourg

21st April 2004

Dear Ministers Kitt, van Ardenne and Goerens,

We the three national platforms of NGOs from the current and upcoming Presidencies write to you collectively, the Ministers for Development Cooperation of the current and upcoming Presidency countries. Together with our NGO colleagues throughout the European Union and accession states, welcome the recent Communication from the Commission on Translating the Monterrey Consensus into practice : the contribution by the European Union. This Communication demonstrates the seriousness with which the EU is taking the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development. It highlights some important advances in development co-operation, in particular, the predicted increase in EU ODA to 0.42% by 2006. Such advances are to be welcomed.

Counter to the view of the Commission expressed in this Communication, however, we believe strongly that further action is required in order to ensure that the EU fulfils its part in what was agreed at the UN Millennium Summit, and in Monterrey. This is especially true in view of preparations for the UN stock-take on the MDGs in 2005. If the EU is to make an impact at that event - which is generally seen as the litmus test on whether Northern countries are taking these goals seriously - major strides ahead are essential during 2004. The need for a breakthrough in financing the MDGs was recognised in the conclusions of the January GAERC.

In this regard, together with NGOs from all over Europe, we ask you to adopt a number of measures during the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 26-27 April 2004. In short, they are as follows :

  Agree a time frame by which EU member states will reach the UN target of 0.7% GNI to ODA, including incremental steps to that target. Such a time frame should include assurances that any increases in ODA must be poverty focused and not a consequence of broadened OECD/DAC criteria or counter-terrorism clauses ;

  Ensure that the proposed reorganisation of the Commission reflects the institutional structure necessary to deliver effective aid aimed at poverty eradication across all developing countries, and for this to be reflected in the new European Constitutional treaty ;

  Agree to give the EC a role in monitoring EU countries’ and EC contribution to meeting MDG 8, whilst fully supporting the UNDP efforts to monitor MDGs 1-7.

We look forward to hearing your response.

Yours sincerely,

Hans Zomer, Dóchas, Ireland
Elisabeth van der Steenhoven, EONG, Netherlands
Mike Mathias, Cercle de Coopération, Luxembourg