Mikser urges EU countries to deliver on aid promises
Foreign Minister Sven Mikser (SDE), who participated in a meeting of the development cooperation ministers of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Friday, invited all countries to fulfill their promises made at donor conferences to alleviate humanitarian crises.
Mikser said that the current risk of famine in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, and northeastern Nigeria could evolve into the biggest humanitarian crisis in the history of the UN. "To avoid that, the EU must act together and fulfill the promises made at donor conferences," Mikser said. He added that enforcing international humanitarian law in situations of crisis was extremely important.
Mikser emphasized that to increase resilience to humanitarian crises it was important to see to it that humanitarian aid, development cooperation and security measures worked together.
The topics discussed at the meeting also included the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which contains 17 goals of sustainable development in the field of social, economic and environmental issues. "The EU as one of the spokespeople of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must contribute seriously and visibly towards achieving the goals of sustainable development," Mikser said. He added that it was important that every country took on the responsibility to achieving the goals.
The ministers also discussed the future relations between the EU and African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries after the expiration of the so-called Cotonou Agreement in February 2020. Mikser called on his colleagues to active cooperation and willingness to compromise, which would enable in time to form a joint EU standpoint regarding future relations with ACP countries.
The ministers approved the new European Consensus on Development, which stipulates the EU's and member states' joint priorities in development cooperation until 2030.
Mikser also met with Belgium's Minister of Development Cooperation, Alexander De Croo. The topics discussed at that meeting included Estonia's priorities for the upcoming EU presidency, the importance of digital issues in the field of development assistance, and the She Decides campaign. Mikser said that digital solutions are very important during Estonia's presidency both at the EU's internal and external level and that Belgium is an important supporter of Estonia in both regards.
She Decides is a new global initiative on sexual health and family planning that aims to support women’s fundamental right to decide freely and for themselves whether, when and how many children they have.
Editor: Dario Cavegn
Source: BNS