"More money is needed to aid development, to fight destitution, to give schooling to the children of the world": José Manuel Barroso takes stock of the Objectives of the Millennium established in 2000 by the international community to halve poverty in the world by 2015. At the same time, he gives a report from the EU Executive which asks the EU member states to account for their financial commitment in this area. "It is scaring and worrying that in 2007 the overall amount of global aids have been reduced, as proven by OECD last Friday. This also concerns many EU member states". The goal of the report "is to review the efforts made by the EU to pursue the Objectives of the Millennium" and to "act better and more effectively". The 27 member states had undertaken three years ago to raise their overall aids to 0.56% of their Gross Domestic Product by 2010: "Some states have moved in this direction, others haven’t. The OECD praised, for instance, Spain for the progress made". But while Germany is increasing its funds, "France, the United Kingdom and Italy have decreased them". (continued)
