The EU reconfirmed its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), on 17 June, after heads of state and government attending the European Council in Brussels prepared the groundwork for the upcoming UN high-level plenary meeting on the issue. They announced their intention to “strengthen our collective endeavours and our partnerships with developing countries to eliminate global poverty, hunger and inequality”. The conclusions adopted by the Council underline the importance of continuing to fund these development aims despite the pressures from the economic and financial crisis.