EU 'falling behind' in its aid promises

European Union nations will fall $117.3 billion short of their aid promises to the world's poorest nations by 2010, if they don't agree to binding spending increases, according to a coalition of aid groups.

The anti-poverty groups - which include Oxfam International, ActionAid and CARE International - urged the 27-nation bloc on Wednesday to heed their warning or risk denting its credibility as the world's top aid donor.

"A hundred thousand estimated dead in Burma, food prices rocketing and a woman dying every minute in pregnancy or childbirth. Now more than ever, European governments must deliver the aid they promised to the world's poor," said Justin Kilcullen, president of CONCORD, which represents the alliance of 1,600 international aid groups and networks from 22 nations.