In a press briefing on 14 January 2009, the European Court of Auditors has presented its Special Report on "EC Development Assistance to Health Services in Sub-Saharan Africa”.

The conclusions are disastrous for the EC policy. "For years the Commission is promoting the MDGs and puts it high on the political agenda, but in reality nothing has changed", says Hon. Anne Van Lancker, MEP and EPF President in a press release. "How can you pretend giving priority to the MDGs if allocations to the health sector in sub-Saharan Africa have not increased since 2000 as a proportion to total ODA?” she asks, highlighting that the Court of Auditor’s Report officially confirms what was already mentioned by the joint EPF/DSW Study 'Euromapping 2008' on health issues in general and sexual and reproductive health issues in particular. "More and better aid in the health sector is urgently needed if the Commission wants to fulfil her commitments towards the Millennium Development Goals!" Hon. Anne Van Lancker, MEP concludes.

press release