ONE releases 2012 DATA Report looking at E.U. commitments to development, Africa

ONE released its 2012 DATA Report this week, the ONE Blog reports, noting that the report this year focuses on the European Union's commitments to development and to Africa. The report "tracks the progress of the E.U. institutions and the 27 E.U. Member States towards their promised goals of collectively providing 0.7 percent of their Gross National Income towards development assistance by 2015," and a pledge to provide half of all aid increases to Africa, the blog notes. "The DATA report finds that while progress towards the 0.7 percent goal is mixed, all are lagging on their Africa promises," the blog writes (Gunzburg, 6/25). E.U. Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs welcomed the report in a statement, saying, "I share the view that, in order to meet the 0.7 percent of GNI dedicated to aid, political courage and leadership is required but I'm confident that European governments will not make savings on the back of the poor. As Commissioner for Development, I will continue to call on Member States to keep their promises" (6/25).