Eurovision Aid Contest
Outside a meeting of European Development Ministers today (18th May), European NGOs, including ActionAid, held a “Eurovision Aid Contest” exposing just how European Member States are really performing on their aid promises to developing countries.
A new report from CONCORD, “Lighten the load: In a time of crisis, European aid has never been more important” , shows that European governments will not meet their 2010 aid targets unless serious action is taken now.
European NGOs today highlighted their concerns in a “Eurovision Aid Contest”, performing songs such as Abba’s ‘It’s a rich man’s world’ and naming and shaming four of the best and worst providers of European aid.
The song performers, wearing the masks of the heads of government of these four countries – Sweden, Spain, Austria and Italy - faced a jury from Europe and developing countries.
Italy and Austria were issued with damning judgements, whilst Spain and Sweden were praised as leaders in aid provision.
“Words, promises and pledges are nice but real aid commitments are more useful to the poor. From countries like Italy, we need less ‘parole’ and more action to put an end to poverty,” said Noerine Kaleeba, ActionAid’s President, who is from Uganda.
At today’s alternative Eurovision, the following European governments were named and shamed on their aid performance:
© Bart Van Otterdijk