EU countries spend more on development aid

brussels - The European Union and its member states last year issued a record amount of 75.5 billion euros in development aid. That's 11 percent more than in 2015, which they remain the biggest donor worldwide.

This was reported by the European Commission on Tuesday based on preliminary figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The 75.5 billion is equivalent to 0.51 percent of gross domestic product of the EU (GDP).

Member States undertook twelve years ago that they would spend on development aid in 2015 0.7 percent of their GDP. Five EU countries took that standard last year: Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom. Netherlands gave in 2016 more than 4.5 billion euros, equivalent to 0.65 percent of GDP.

Seven countries remained at the same level and sixteen increased their budget. The other five spent less on development aid. Moreover, the costs for the reception of asylum seekers should be counted.