Aid agencies accuse EU leaders of betraying developing countries

European faith-based development agencies say EU leaders who met in Brussels for the last time before going to Copenhagen have failed to show their commitment to a just and effective financing deal for a new global agreement on climate change.

The EU is considered a global leader on development co-operation. Christian Aid, Tearfund and Caritas say ministers’ failure to commit to the essentials of a climate agreement that would protect development is a "betrayal of fundamental equity principles of the Climate Convention".

The agencies said that the current impacts of climate change were already unbearable for many poor countries and required additional funding.

They said it was crucial that climate funds were in addition to existing aid commitments, needed to fund services such as health and education.

Nelson Muffuh, Senior Policy Advisor at Christian Aid, said: "The EU offer to provide €2.4 billion near-term finance per year between 2010-2012 is largely a re-packaging of old aid commitments.

"Financing for urgently needed action in developing countries is extremely important - but this is nothing but a weak and empty gesture from the EU.

"It is little more than old promises made over the last two years. This is not justice."

Niamh Garvey, Environmental Justice Officer of Trocaire, CIDSE and Caritas’s Irish member, said: "However important, near-term finance should not divert attention from long-term needs. Clear commitments on both need to be part of the Copenhagen outcome.

"So far, the EU has refused to specify what it will commit for long-term needs – one of the key issues for developing countries in the negotiations."

Paul Cook, Advocacy Director of Tearfund said: "No new cash basically equals no deal in Copenhagen.

"This is a fundamental issue of justice and it is critical for achieving an agreement.

"Developing countries can and should accept no less than this. The EU is looked to for leadership. To turn its back now could prove fatal for developing countries.”

The agencies say that EU development Ministers, who are set to come to Copenhagen on Monday, must come out strongly on finance, which is of utmost relevance to their mandates.

They need to call for a binding outcome, including sufficient short-term and secure long-term financing for climate action in developing countries, in addition to existing aid commitments.