President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, announced in his statement at the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals, held in New York on 20 September 2010, that the European Union will be contributing to the most committed and needy countries an MDG initiative amounting to 1 billion Euro to make progress on those goals.

President Barroso highlighted that the European Union has kept the fight against poverty high on its agenda, as European citizens themselves demand for it. As the world's leading donor, accounting for more than 50% of all development aid, the European Union has contributed to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) from the very beginning.

The EU stands with countries in difficulty and remains a reliable partner even in times of economic downturn, as during the food crisis the Union provided 1.5 billion Euro in additional support through a Food Facility and a Flexibility Instrument reaching 50 countries and benefiting 50 million people. However, much remains to be done and efforts must be increased to reach common objectives over the next 5 years.

In June 2010 Europe's leaders agreed an ambitious plan that takes things up a gear by prioritising action on those goals where least progress has been done, and in those regions and countries that are most lagging behind including those experiencing conflict, crises and fragility of governance. The plan also confirms EU's commitment to meet the 0.7% GNI target by 2015 and to assess progress on this every year.

1 billion Euro for MDG

President Barroso, reaffirmed at the UN High-Level Plenary Meeting, Europe’s commitment to this common challenge and announced that the EU is ready to offer to the most committed and needy countries an MDG initiative amounting to 1 billion Euro to make progress on those goals we are furthest from achieving.

However, it should also be reminded that aid is a catalyst, not a cure, and that no country has ever been transformed by aid alone. That is why it is also important that EU partners take charge of their own development.