The EU and its 27 member states remain the world’s main donors of aids to development (nearly one half of the total). In 2007, the overall amount was 46.1 billion US dollars (OECD statistics) versus 47.7 the year before. "We are deeply worried about this reduction in the funds allocated by the member states goes on Barroso -. The EU Commission has been entrusted by the EU with defining an overall strategy in this area and so now we ask the member states to account for how much they spend, how they are going to do it, and in addition to set out some specific long-term objectives. I will insist on the need for specific commitments with the EU Council in June, partly in the run-up to the next international events": the Accra conference on the effectiveness of aids (September 2008) and the Doha Conference on funds for development (next December). Then, Barroso mentions some of the results delivered over these years, especially in Africa. Then, he recalls: "Our commitment complies with our values. There are fundamental issues at play. In addition to the fight against poverty, the global geopolitical stability, the support of new democracies, control over migration and the prevention of the causes of terrorism".
