G8 must deliver on Gleneagles promises, says Kinnock

7th June 2007

G8 LEADERS meeting in Germany this week must deliver on their Gleneagles promises, Euro-MP Glenys Kinnock today urged.

Labour's European spokesperson on international development and Co-President of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States - EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, said failure to re-affirm the commitments made in 2005 would be a tragic missed opportunity.

GLENYS KINNOCK said:

"At Gleneagles two years ago, under the leadership of the UK, agreement was reached on an action plan on energy and climate change, pledges were made to provide $50 billion in extra aid every year until 2010, and 100% debt cancellation was agreed.

"Yet the reality is that over the last year G8 countries' aid assistance fell by 8.7%. And despite promises, aid to Africa - if you take out debt relief - has barely gone up. Oxfam has calculated that the shortfall is a shocking $30 billion and the G8 countries are, on average, giving just $87 per person compared with Sweden which gives $441 per person.

"Aid and debt relief does work; we can see its results in the millions of children who have gone to school and the anti-retroviral HIV/AIDS treatment and mosquito nets that are saving lives.

"But G8 leaders must do more. For their first time in history we have a real chance to get all children into school, keep babies alive and healthy, and provide clean water and sanitation.

"All of this is do-able, but it is imperative that the G8 turn things around urgently. Failure to live up to their Gleneagles promises would be a tragic missed opportunity."