Date of release : 03-03-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Representatives of the industrialised countries and of numerous developing countries adopted the Paris Declaration on Wednesday, 2 March 2005. The European Union’s position was represented by Jean-Louis Schiltz, Luxembourg Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs.

The Paris Declaration includes provisions to accelerate the harmonisation of procedures and alignment of aid on the priorities of  the partner countries.

The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union welcomed the outcomes of the Paris Forum, on account of their contribution to the increased efficiency of aid.

The European Union, however, would have liked the Declaration to contain more precise and quantifiable objectives so as to be able to assess in practical terms the fulfilment of commitments in years to come. 

For their part, the EU Member States and the European Commission have undertaken four specific commitments in order to improve the quality of their aid in years to come. The Union has pledged in the future, to deliver 50% of its aid through the systems of the beneficiary countries in the form of budgetary assistance or through a sectorial approach. It has also undertaken to avoid implementing new project-management units. Furthermore, the Union has made commitments to reduce the number of non-coordinated missions in the field by 50%. Finally, it decided to provide all its assistance to the strengthening of capacities (training and transfer of know-how) through coordinated projects by increasing the use of multi-donour agreements.

"The EU wants specific action. The time of empty promises must be put behind us once and for all. We need to make more rapid progress in terems of harmonisation and alignment. The challenge lies in speeding up the implementation of what we do" stated Jean-Louis Schiltz.