EU/UN: THE EU MUST PLAY A DRIVING ROLE IN ACHIEVING THE MILLENNIUM GOALS

摘要

The Millennium Goals are achievable if rich nations move immediately to invest in development, according to a report commissioned by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan from a group of experts led by Professor Jeffrey. Sachs and presented jointly with Development Commissioner Louis Michel and Mark Malloch Brown, President of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Brussels on January 18. The report argues that the eradication of poverty world'Wide and in particular in Africa is possible provided wealthy nations boost aid for the poorest countries. Mr Sachs says the EU has a "special vocation" to lead efforts to this end. Louis Michel responded that the report demonstrates that "there can be no excuse" for not acting immediately,and pledged that the EU will take a lead through a pro-active policy. However, he criticised a number of Member States for failing to increase development aid at the last Development Council.