Actualités

EU development aid in action in Rwanda

30/09/2010

Commissioner Piebalgs and Minister Charles Michel in Rwanda visit:

The "bench terraces" project which are considered as the best way to mitigate soil erosion and increase agricultural production.
EU funded coffee washing station in Rulindo
Mutobo demobilisation camp for former combatants in eastern Kivu.

Commissioner Piebalgs' first visit to Rwanda to assess EU's aid impact on the ground and sign €52 million financial agreements on regional cooperation and governance

29/09/2010

From 28 to 30 September, EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs will pay his first visit to Rwanda. He will travel together with Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation Charles Michel, on behalf of the EU Belgian Presidency. They will have bilateral meetings with high level Rwandese authorities. EU Commissioner Piebalgs will take this opportunity to sign two financial agreements, for a total amount of €51.85 million. The first agreement aims at supporting regional road connections and cross-border cooperation in the field of energy and hydropower; the second will support Rwanda to improve public financial management based on sound statistics. EU Commissioner Piebalgs and Belgian Minister Charles Michel will also visit the Commission's and Belgian funded projects to assess the impact of the aid on the ground.

Nouveaux horizons pour la coopération

28/09/2010

Deux mois avant le prochain Sommet UE-Afrique à Tripoli, le Commissaire européen pour le développement, Andris Piebalgs, ensemble avec le Commissaire de l'Union africaine pour les affaires économiques, Maxwell M Mkwezalamba, ont ouvert le sommet politique annuel des Amis de l'Europe à Bruxelles (27 sept).

Le Commissaire Piebalgs ouvre le sommet annuel politique sur l'Afrique

27/09/2010

On Monday, 27 September, Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and African Union Commissioner for Economic Affairs Maxwell M Mkwezalamba will open the policy summit in Brussels hosted by the Friends of Europe: «Partnership Africa: New Horizons for EU- and Inter-African Cooperation». Just two months ahead of the forthcoming EU-Africa summit in November 2010 in Tripoli the stakeholders will address common concerns and global challenges of the EU and Africa such as governance, healthcare, and climate change.

Commissioner Piebalgs in New York, on the High Level UN Summit on the MDGs

22/09/2010

On Monday (20/09), Commissioner Andris Piebalgs attended the opening session of the UN MDG Summit. He co-chaired a lively and well attended round table on the need to set up sound and transparent fiscal systems in developing countries. "A country with sound and efficient taxation systems, leveraging domestic resources, is a mature country which can develop on solid grounds" he said. He also met with Helen Clark, Administrator of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the European Commission and UNDP to foster efficient aid delivery in developing courtiers.

MDG Summit in New York – day 2

21/09/2010

The EU is major donor of aid in the world, contributing 56% to global aid. However, the progress on achieving the Millennium Development Goals is still mixed and the geographical performance varies. Commissioner Piebalgs continues his participation in the United Nations Summit on the MDGs where the world leaders meet to discuss the issue and find solutions for reducing poverty in the world by 2015.

Taxation and tax evasion and achieving the MDGs

21/09/2010

Commissioner Piebalgs, together with President of the African Development Bank Donald Kaberuka will chair a side level event on the margins of the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (New York, 1.00 – 3.00 p.m. local time). This Commission's event is titled «Domestic Resource Mobilisation – Achieving Development and the MDGs in a Sustainable Way» and focuses on the issues related to taxation and tax evasion in the developing world.

Young Reporters Against Poverty Contest Launched Today

21/09/2010

EuropeAid together with the European Journalism Centre and media partners in the Member States launched the Young Reporters Against Poverty Contest, the first Europe-wide contest for journalism students passionate about development. Journalism students (aged 18-30) in the Member States are invited to submit a written or radio report on the EU and development. The finalists will be invited to attend and report from the European Development Days and the very best will be invited to a field trip to visit EU funded projects in Africa.

UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals starts today

20/09/2010

From 20 to 22 September, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner Andris Piebalgs will participate in the UN High Level Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in New York. The meeting aims at reviewing progress made towards the development goals and adding additional momentum into the global fight against poverty. As the world leading donor, contributing with around 56% of global aid, the EU remains firmly committed to reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and will call on all partners to increase their efforts and focus on results. To this end, the European Commission has proposed to devote up to €1 billion to reward performing partner countries and to support the most off-track ones in recognition of their engagement and needs.

EU Contribution to the Millennium Development Goals

15/09/2010

Ahead of the UN Summit the European Commission published a brochure on the EU contribution to the Millennium Development Goals. This publication offers an overview of the different ways in which the Commission have helped the world’s most disadvantaged populations.

Energy in Africa: Commissioners Piebalgs and Oettinger launch the Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme

14/09/2010

At the High Level Meeting of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) in Vienna, EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and EU Commissioner for Energy, Gunther Oettinger will launch the Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP) together with the African Union.

Steadfast solidarity in crisis time

13/09/2010

European citizens continue to show resolute support to aid provided to developing countries according to a special Eurobarometer published today. One week before the UN High Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, the survey shows that 89% of respondents consider development aid is important or very important. Commissioner Piebalgs commented on the results: “European citizens sent a very clear message to all of us: despite the economic slowdown, EU's solidarity and responsibility towards those in need must be pursued. I personally see this as a mandate to remain relentlessly determined in attaining the Millennium Development Goals. Clearly, we need to ensure the highest impact of EU aid, which is the biggest in the world.”