Europe
European Union (EU) countries provide over half of all development aid and form the world's largest trade bloc. As a result, the EU is pivotal to efforts for more and better aid, the resolution of debt problems, and trade justice.
European Union positions in international fora will also be critical in generating change on issues such as climate change, human rights, global public accountability, decent work standards and human security.
The extent of the European Union's contribution to eradicating poverty and inequality in the run up to the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals is yet to be determined.
The European Parliament elections in June 2009, the new European Commission (due to be in place by November 2009), and important institutional changes will all contribute to this - making it a crucial time for the EU.
At this defining time, civil society has a real opportunity to influence what Europe will stand for on the world stage in the years to come. BOND works in the UK and in Europe to maximise this opportunity to win change that contribute to the eradication of poverty and inequality worldwide.
