The European Union executive has emphasized the importance of EU states fulfilling their commitments to increase aid to impoverished countries, stating that failing to reach U.N. goals would have dire consequences for developing nations and global stability. While progress has been made towards the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, there are still significant challenges such as high child mortality rates, lack of access to clean water, limited education opportunities, and widespread illiteracy among women. The Commission stressed that achieving these goals is crucial for developing countries, Europe, and global stability, and called for increased political and public support to make it happen. The EU executive urged EU states to follow through on their promises to increase development aid as a percentage of Gross National Income, highlighting the importance of this in addressing issues like migration, security, and climate change. Each of the 27 EU states was urged to create financial plans that demonstrate year by year increases to meet the goals. In 2007, the European Union, which is the world's largest aid donor, pledged over 46 billion euros in aid. However, this amount decreased by about 1.7 billion euros from the previous year, which could have funded 4,500 schools or 1,200 hospitals. Aid and development Commissioner Louis Michel described this decrease as a "serious failure." The Commission stressed the importance of more effective aid by preventing duplication of efforts, assisting developing countries in utilizing biofuels to combat poverty, and taking action to reduce brain drains, especially in the fields of health, education, and research. The Commission also noted that fundamental principles of aid effectiveness are not being followed and announced plans to propose improvements on a state-by-state basis. The text called for the allocation of 2 billion euros ($3.15 billion) by 2010 to the Aid for Trade program, which aims to assist poorer countries in taking advantage of export opportunities, particularly focusing on African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso stressed the need for action in 2008 rather than just words, emphasizing the importance of delivering on promises to maintain credibility. A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development revealed a decrease in development aid from major donors, largely due to the conclusion of significant debt relief packages. In 2000, 189 U.N. members established goals to eradicate poverty, promote human and social development, and protect the environment. In 2005, leaders of the European Union set goals for 2015 to reduce extreme poverty by half, provide primary education to all children, and enhance health standards. Aid from the EU reached 0.38 percent of the Gross National Income (GNI) in the previous year, slightly below the target of 0.39 percent for 2006, which was successfully achieved. The European Commission calculated that Official Development Assistance equated to 93 euros per EU citizen, surpassing the figures of 53 euros per person in the United States and 44 euros per person in Japan.