On 8 April, the European Commission announced the preliminary 2014 data on official development assistance, according to which EU institutions and member states has increased collective Official Development Assistance (ODA) by 1.7 billion (up to 2.4 % from 2013) in the amount of EUR 58.2 billion. EU collective ODA represented 0.42% of EU Gross National Income (GNI). The European Union has kept its place as the world's largest aid donor.
According to the preliminary data, Lithuania's official development assistance amounted to EUR 30.45 million or 0.09% of GNI in 2014.
The biggest share of of Lithuania's support was provided on the multilateral basis of contributions to the European Development Fund and EU's general budget's allocations for the implementation of EU external policies. Last year, these payments amounted to more than EUR 3.77 million and EUR 19.16 million respectively. On the bilateral basis Lithuanian assistance was provided to Eastern Partnership countries, Afghanistan and other countries on the OECD list of ODA recipients.
In 2014 Lithuania's contribution to humanitarian aid was over EUR 370. 000. The most of Lithuanian humanitarian aid was provided to Ukraine which consisted of the measures necessary to ensure basic living conditions for the displaced Ukrainians in the Donetsk and Lugansk areas; treatment of injured in Lithuania; funds for transfer of children affected by conflict from eastern Ukraine to Lithuania for the 2014-2015 school year. The humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and other countries affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts were also allocated through international organizations: UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA); the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP).
Since becoming a member of the European Union in 2004, Lithuania has undertaken the commitment regarding development cooperation seeking to support for long-term and sustainable development of developing countries, in their efforts to reduce poverty and integrate them into the world economy. In the conclusions of 24 May 2005 of the European Council Lithuania committed to achieve ODA allocation up to 0.33% of gross national income by 2015. Other European Union Member States have committed 0.7% ODA/GNI target. According to preliminary data of 2014 only four EU Member States have implemented the ODA commitments.
In 16 EU Member States, including Lithuania, the ratio of ODA/GNI decreased in 2014.The reasons of this trend and ways to overcome it are analysed at national and European level. The relevance of ODA commitments is important in the context of Post-2015 Development Agenda as well as it's means of implementation This agenda will replace the Millennium Development Goals foreseeing development guidelines for the developing as well as developed countries.
For more information, please read here: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-4748_en.htm?locale=en.
