For the first time since 2012, the EU’s aid spending decreased in 2017. This means, at the current rate of growth, the EU would need another 40 years to meet the 0.7% ODA/GNI target, reveals CONCORD AidWatch Report 2018.
Brussels, 9 April 2018 – For the first time since 2012, total aid has globally decreased (by 0.6%), show the latest statistics of the OECD Development Assistance Committee. This drop can be explained by the decline of in-donor refugee costs reported as aid (-13.6% on 2016). Reflecting this global trend, European DAC members are the main reason for the shift in the statistics with drops in refugee costs in many Member States such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece and Slovenia.
CONCORD in the news: Article in EUobserver, written by Anastasia Kyriacou from AidEx – As aid is increasingly spent less in the least developed countries, a new report by CONCORD has revealed the EU is diverting an increasing proportion of spending towards conflict and security – to the point it has in the last decade outpaced all aid growth.
Ahead of the DAC high-level meeting, CONCORD encourages the OECD to ensure aid maintains a laser focus on eradicating poverty and sustainable development for all. The outcomes of the meeting could reinforce current worrying trends for EU aid: decrease of aid to least developed countries, increase of conditionality and securitisation of aid as well as an increase of in-donor country costs reported.
With only genuine aid being accounted, it would take the EU and its Member States another 30 years to reach their commitment to 0.7% GNI, reveals the CONCORD AidWatch report 2017 “EU Aid Uncovered – how to reach the target on time” published today.