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[email protected] No. 126 31 May 2015 EU development ministers put profits projects. This shift towards private-sector and privatisation first finance risks putting public services out of reach for the poorest people, who are unable EU development ministers have adopted a joint to pay the user fees associated with it. The position on how to finance the planned private sector cannot, and should not, replace sustainable development goals before the governments’ duty of providing essential conference on Financing for Development in services, such as health services and education, July in Addis Ababa. The stated aim is not only especially when there are no safeguards to to end poverty in all forms everywhere by 2030 ensure that this is done responsibly. but also to introduce specific environmental and social goals, such as reducing economic Joe Costello (Labour Party), minister for inequality. state at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for trade and develop- The content of the sustainable develop- ment, was part of the decision-making process. ment goals will be decided at a UN summit meeting in New York in September, which is The EU is also trying to sell its ailing carbon- intended to set the international development trading system to developing countries as a way agenda for the next fifteen years. Decisions on to curb emissions. It would be more convincing how to finance the goals will be made at the if it spent the revenue wisely, spending some of summit meeting in Ethiopia.