The current financial and economic crisis gives a particular context to the idea of a contribution on international financial transactions to fund development. The Sixth plenary session of the Leading Group on innovative financing, held on May 28th and 29th in Paris, opened this debate before last summer, in continuation of the works started since the Group’s foundation in 2006. Ever since, several high-level interventions in the world press have underlines the important potential of this idea.

Interested countries will meet in october in Paris to assess the technical and legal feasibility of a currency transaction levy and voluntary contributions based on international financial transactions, and to explore all options in that regard.