This is the fourth year in a row that the EU increased its Official Development Assistance (ODA), reaching the highest level ever, the EC underscored.
The EU's Official Development Assistance increased from 0.47% of Gross National Income (GNI) in 2015 to 0.51% of GNI in 2016.
In 2016, five EU Member States provided 0.7% or more of their Gross National Income (GNI) in Official Development Assistance: Luxembourg (1.00%), Sweden (0.94%), Denmark (0.75%), the United Kingdom (0.70%) and Germany (0.70%), which reached the target for the first time. Sixteen EU Member States increased their ODA compared to their GNI, while 5 Member States reduced their ODA and 7 remained at the same level as last year.
“I am proud that the EU remains the world's leading provider of Official Development Assistance – a clear proof of our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We call on all development actors to re-double their efforts to do likewise. And we do not stop there. Leveraging private sector investments, helping mobilise domestic resources and intensifying joint efforts with EU Member States, we seek to make the most of all financing sources for development," Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, was quoted as saying.