As President Sarkozy arrives in the UK for a state visit, Oxfam has attacked his plans to go back on France's promise to increase aid to poor countries.

In the next few days President Sarkozy looks set to announce that France - the first G8 country to sign up to the UN target of delivering 0.7 % of GNI as foreign aid by 2012 - has abandoned that commitment. Instead the President is likely to propose an extension of the deadline to 2015, a decision that will represent a serious breach of promise for the millions of people in poor countries who rely on French aid. It will also send out a dangerous message to other rich country governments who came together at Gleneagles in 2005 to 'make poverty history' that they are free to break their aid commitments with impunity.

"President Sarkozy's plans to break promises on aid are morally indefensible and politically inept," said Sébastien Fourmy of Oxfam France - Agir ici. "If France breaks its 0.7 % pledge, millions of people will be let down in their fight against poverty."

"France has consistently shown leadership on the vital issue of ending world poverty and fighting suffering in Africa. It was at the heart of the G8 decision to increase aid by $ 50 billion per year by 2010 and was the first G8 country to set a timetable to meet the 0.7 % of GNI, by 2012. This decision would represent a real fall from grace for a country that has historically been such an aid champion."

President Sarkozy will meet with Gordon Brown on Thursday morning to discuss issues such as closer cooperation on immigration and nuclear power, as well as the possible deployment of additional 1,000 French troops in Afghanistan. But it is also expected that Brown will want aid and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals to be high on the agenda. The UK is already the world's second largest aid donor after the US, and Brown is personally committed to reaching the UN target of 0.7 % by 2013 - a commitment that President Sarkozy apparently does not share.

This year's aid figures will show that overall levels of aid have fallen for the second year in a row and that progress towards the promises made in Gleneagles in 2005 has been minimal.

"Sarkozy's decision is potentially very dangerous," said Fourmy. "It could send a very negative signal to other rich nations and especially EU member states in terms of breaking Gleneagles promises with impunity."

"Our latest predictions show that France is already on track to miss its 2010 promise by 5 billion euros. The fact that delivering the money as promised could save the lives of 4.5 million children shows just how high the stakes are."

"President Sarkozy must publicly reaffirm the French commitment 0.7 % by 2012 target as soon as possible, and go on to set a clear timetable for achieving this, including the EU interim target of 0.56 % of GNI by 2010."

ENDS

For more information contact: Dan Timms, +44 (0)1865 472 193, +44 (0)7810 181 514

NOTES

Currently French Overseas Development Aid is 0.47 % of GNI - a very tiny part of the French budget. It is set to fall for the second year in a row when figures are announced in early April.

The cost to France of meeting its aid promises is just only 127 euros per person, just under half what the average citizen spends on perfume.
Oxfam has calculated that on current trends, the French will miss the aid level they promised in Gleneagles by 7.6 billion dollars, or 5 billion euro. The World Health Organisation has estimated it would cost 5.6 billion dollars to save 4.45 million childrens lives by 2010. For more information see Oxfam briefing paper 'The World is Still Waiting' June 2007. http://www.oxfam.org/en/files/bp103_g8_world_is_still_waiting.pdf/download