The Chairman of the EPP Group, Joseph Daul MEP, has welcomed the goals of the 'Living Proof' Campaign to be presented today in the European Parliament by Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Following the meeting with Bill Gates, the Chairman of the EPP Group said: "Tackling poverty is a task for all of us. The EPP Group wants an ambitious European development policy. We firmly support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 as well as meeting the target of the 0.7% of GNI for official development assistance. We believe that acceleration of progress to meet these targets is crucial, in particular with regards to the fight against hunger, disease, maternal and child mortality, basic education for all, and protection of the environment."

"The economic crisis is not an excuse for not showing solidarity with the poorest. Last year, on behalf of the EPP Group, I asked the European Commission to propose a solution to sustain food aid programmes, in the knowledge that the agreement reached in Council only covers the next two years."

Talking about the challenges ahead, Joseph Daul MEP said: "We will tackle poverty by offering a hand-up, not a hand-out, by giving the people in need the fishing rod to fish and not the fish itself. We aim, therefore, to assist developing countries to reach a stage of economic development where a free market of goods and services can operate freely within the broad parameters set by the State and according to basic international norms of trade. It is for the benefit of both developed and developing countries."

For further information:

Joseph DAUL MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, Tel: +33-3-88175525

Antoine Ripoll, Chairman's Spokesman, Tel: +32-475-856290

Delia Vlase, Chairman's Deputy Spokesperson, Tel: +32-476-331038

Notes to Editors:

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 271 Members.