ONE welcomes progress on key development priorities at Brussels G7 Summit

Brussels – ONE welcomes the outcome of the Brussels G7 Summit this afternoon, with more progress than expected on some key development priorities; including on transparency in the extractives industries.

The G7 Summit was pulled together at the last minute following leaders pulling out of Sochi. Against low expectations due to these special circumstances this Brussels Summit has more than delivered.

Speaking on the outcome, Eloise Todd, International Advocacy Director of ONE, said:

“G7 leaders have kept the ball rolling forward on transparency, health, agriculture and the push for ambitious new goals on development. We welcome the commitment to clear and measurable objectives for the post-2015 agenda, and we are pleased to see leaders calling for action on AIDS and a successful replenishment of the GAVI vaccines initiative in 2015.

The call for global standards on project-level reporting of payments from extractive companies to governments in all countries in which they operate sends out an important signal that transparency must be the norm for governments and businesses worldwide. This, and the acknowledgement that releasing information on who owns and controls companies and trusts can benefit developing countries, must be built upon at the G20 later this year.

Today’s outcome is good, but next year’s summit in Germany needs to do better.  We expect the German summit to be the most ambitious and successful yet for development. Next year, leaders will meet as the world debates whether to launch a huge push to end extreme poverty and transform opportunities for the poorest.  Under Chancellor Merkel’s leadership, they must show that they can play their full part in that historic mission.”

About ONE

ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organization of more than 4 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, we raise public awareness and press political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programs. To learn more, go to ONE.org.

For further information or to arrange an interview with Eloise Todd please contact Tess Uytterhoeven on +32 471 89 64 22 or [email protected]