Charities Say EU Budget Crunch Affects Foreign Aid

 PARIS - Some of the planet's poorest countries may be feeling the fallout of Europe's financial crisis. New studies show that European Union development aid is falling, and that billions of dollars are not reaching needy¹ countries.

Released Monday, a report by Concord², a European non-government organization, found that a growing number of European Union countries are falling short of promises to earmark 0.7 percent of their gross domestic product for development aid.

Perhaps more worrying, said Concord's aid watch coordinator³ Zuzana Sládková, the trend will likely continue, as European nations struggle with a financial crisis that is now in its third year.

"We think that even in a time of financial crisis, member states can fulfill⁴ their commitments that they promise," she said. "It looks like the trend is the opposite."

The Concord report said that 11 EU countries cut their aid levels in 2011. Another nine plan further cuts this year.

Anti-poverty group, ONE, released similar findings. The group said those cutting their aid budgets include struggling eurozone countries like Greece, Spain and Italy - but also Europe's two biggest economies, France and Germany.

Concord also said about $9 billion of aid assistance did not reach poor nations last year, but was rather spent in other areas, like refugees at home or on debt relief.

But the aid report was not all bleak⁵. Countries like Britain and Sweden are maintaining or increasing their development assistance. So is struggling Ireland.

"Ireland was hit heavily by the financial crisis. But even with the financial crisis, they are trying to provide as much aid as they can," said Sládková.

European Commission spokeswoman Catherine Ray said the EU's executive arm agreed member states should increase their assistance. "In times of crisis, the EU should not forget about the poorest in the world. It's very important that the EU member states increase their aid budget as they promised to do every year," said Ray.

1 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

2 concord   

n.和谐；协调

参考例句：

• These states had lived in concord for centuries.这些国家几个世纪以来一直和睦相处。
• His speech did nothing for racial concord.他的讲话对种族和谐没有作用。

3 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。