Concern in Europe
2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome. It is time to chart a clearer path towards a clearer vision for Europe, for its citizens and for those millions beyond its borders impacted by its actions and ambitions.
Concern believes Europe can and should be a world leader in overseas development and humanitarian assistance. Here is Concern’s submission to a public consultation held by the Forum on Europe in Ireland. This is Concern’s Vision of Europe.
The European Union is the largest donor in the world. Its resources, policies and practices affect the lives of millions of people across developing countries. The 2005 review of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to achieving these goals by 2015. While all this is very welcome, the success of the EU aid programme in 2015 will not be judged on aspirations but rather on the deliverance of our promises to the developing world.
Europe’s commitment to the developing world extends far beyond the MDGs. As a union we have signed up to international law and best practice covering overseas development and humanitarian assistance. This ensures that aid delivered has a real and positive impact upon the lives of the worlds poorest. It is our responsibility of citizens of that union to constantly strive to ensure that our commitments in all areas are followed and we continue to be ambitious in our programme for poverty reduction.
Concern in Europe
Concern has a long standing and positive engagement with Europe. This is reflected in its membership of Alliance2015, a network of six European aid agencies, working together towards the achievement of the MDGs by the target date of 2015. Concern is Chair of Eurostep, a policy network based in Brussels which focuses on strengthening the legal, policy, financial and implementation framework underpinning overseas development. Concern is also an active participant in VOICE, network representing some 90 European non governmental organisations (NGOs) active in humanitarian aid worldwide.If you would like to find out more about our work on European Development Cooperation, please contact olive.towey@concern.net.
