Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 November 2003

Address by Mr. Joe McCartin, MEP.

 

Having said that, perhaps we could see our way to conceding what we might consider the national privilege of each individual state spending its own money on development co-operation and pool that resource. We could enlarge the contribution. The United Nations recommends a budget of 1.6% or 1.7% of GDP, that is, €60 billion to €70 billion. This is more than the entire sum spent on development co-operation in the world today. Perhaps the money could be spent within the framework of a common foreign policy. I will not push people if they do not wish to opt for common defence, although I see nothing wrong with common defence. Europe with one army will be a much safer place than the Europe of 15, 20 or 100 armies of the past. If people are not happy with this, let us have a common foreign policy which is tied into a good foreign development policy. It would not hurt the people of Europe to increase the contribution by 0.2% of 1% of GDP amounting to €60 billion or €70 billion. It would go a long way to stabilise the world and a long way in places such as the Middle East to rebuild it when peace eventually comes following the disaster created there, and for Africa.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.