Christian relief and development agencies have recommended "concrete changes" in European Community (EC) aid so that a greater impact can be made on the lives of the poor in the South.

CIDSE and Caritas Europa have made the recommendations in a new report released this week at the European Parliament, at an event sponsored by Alain Hutchinson MEP.

CIDSE is an alliance of 15 Catholic development organisations from Europe and North America, and Caritas Europa is the umbrella organisation of the European network of 48 Caritas member organisations, working in 44 European countries. It is one of the seven regions of Caritas Internationalis.

The report "The EU's Footprint in the South: Does European Community development cooperation make a difference for the poor?" looks at how the largest EU donor, the European Commission, measures up. It draws upon research in Bangladesh, Zambia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

The analysis shows a mixed picture. "In Cameroon, over two-thirds of EC funding is used for the construction of large international roads. But poor people living in rural areas need smaller roads that connect them with urban areas, if they are to benefit from economic development and access to health services", says Paul Samangassou, the incoming Executive Secretary of Caritas Africa.

"Citizens expect that aid will have a visible impact on the lives of the poor, not just a slow trickle-down effect", he added.