| EU to fall €200m short of climate aid pledges |
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The EU is on track to miss its pledge to raise €2.4bn to help poor countries cope with climate change by €200m, it has been revealed. The shortfall has been widely blamed on Italy, which has cited budget cuts as its excuse for not fulfilling its aid commitments. A leaked EU report was quoted in European Voice as stating: “The EU and its member states have mobilised €2.2bn of fast-start finance in 2010 as part of its overall commitment to provide €7.2bn for the period 2010-12.” “The reason that the Ecofin is €200m short is entirely down to Italy,” said one EU source, quoted in European Voice. “It is a classic thing. They commit themselves to one thing and they don't deliver.” Farida Bena, spokesperson for Oxfam Italia, said: “We cannot believe that Prime Minister Berlusconi is willing to take back what he promised in Copenhagen only a year ago. The recession was in full swing back then too and we just can’t keep using it as an alibi to forsake Italy’s EU commitments.” Elise Ford, head of Oxfam’s EU office, commented: “Italy is apparently set to fail to meet its pledges, meaning that Europe will not even keep its most basic promise on climate finance, before we even look at where this money comes from or what it will be used for.” “We had suspected that the EU was attempting to cover-up its failure to explain how it would provide new and additional cash for climate action in poor countries, but this revelation shows that the situation is even more serious. Italy is truly letting the side down once again and further undermining Europe’s credibility on the global stage, “she added. Sources:  |