The S&D Group in the European Parliament welcomed today's adoption of the report "Financing for Development", which underlines the need for the EU and member states to reaffirm their political leadership and to stick to their commitments regarding Official Development Assistance (ODA).
The S&D Group underlines the need to find international solutions to finance development and negotiate a new framework of development goals.
The EU must continue to make sure that development aid is more effective and better coordinated.
Today's resolution constitutes the European Parliament's input for the EU's position at the Addis Ababa high-level conference in July.
S&D MEP and rapporteur, Pedro Silva Pereira said:
"I am very happy with the wide support my report received and I urge the Commission and member states to take it into account when defining the EU's position for the Addis Ababa conference on financing for development in July.
"The report asks the EU to stay true to its values and to put its weight behind the financing of the post-2015 development agenda.
"As the crisis in the Mediterranean shows, development policy is key for a more inclusive and peaceful world, and therefore it should be properly financed. Without ambitious, concrete and credible commitments in Addis Ababa the future sustainable goals risk becoming merely pretty words."
S&D spokesperson on international development, Norbert Neuser said:
"The EU member states should finally do what they've promised to do since 2000; that is to commit 0.7 % of their GDP for Official Development Assistance. It is a disgrace that only four out of 28 member states have complied with their pledge.
"In this regard I also urge the Parliament, to review their position on conflict minerals. If we are not coherent in our policies and allow conflicts to be financed because we fail to adopt binding rules on certification, we should not be surprised when our development efforts make little impact."
