Waiting for the Economic Financial Perspective, Italian ODA/GDP at 0,22% in 2008

On June 18th the Government approved the Financial and Economic Perspective for 2009-2011. According to official declarations on the eve of the meeting, the Perspective is expected to be a short document (20p). Yet, this document is neither publicly available nor clear whether any ODA increase is mentioned. Previous 2002 and 2007 Financial Perspectives had included annual timetables for aid increase to allow Italy to meet the EU aid targets. Those commitments were not actually met. Over the last months, civil society has called on the new government to include a updated version of the aid timetable, in order to show its commitment to achieve the EU ODA target on the even of the Italian G8 Presidency

The June EU Head of States Council reaffirmed their commitment to reach 0.51% ODA/GDP in 2010, meaning that Italy will have to more than double its current aid level. Recent estimates from the Ministry of Finance forecast 2008 Italian aid at 0.22% - up from 0.19% and equal to 3,5 billion euros, including 600 million from debt relief.