EU: Bono today takes his campaign to end poverty in Africa to Brussels, where he will meet European Commission president José Manuel Barroso in an attempt to put pressure on EU governments to increase their development aid budgets.
Bono's visit to the Berlaymont, which comes a day ahead of a U2 concert in Brussels, will include a joint press conference with Mr Barroso. The commission president said the purpose of the meeting was to send out a strong signal about the EU's commitment to Africa.
"In seven days time, EU leaders from 25 countries will gather in Brussels for a critical summit meeting," Mr Barroso said. "
With decisions on the European constitution and future budget on the table, there is a risk that important decisions on EU aid fall away from the public eye.
"My determination is clear [ to] not let the issue of Africa fall back in the political landscape."
With a development aid budget of €46 billion in 2005, the EU is the biggest donor of overseas aid in the world. EU leaders are expected next week to agree a new intermediate target for development aid of 0.56 per cent of gross national income by 2010, which would allow Europe to reach the UN's 0.7 per cent target by 2015. The commission says its proposals would increase EU development aid to €66 billion in 2010, rising to more than €90 billion in 2015.
Mr Barroso said that the early backing of EU leaders was essential for the plan, which was endorsed last month by EU development ministers. "This will enable the European Union to go to the [ G8 summit] table at Gleneagles on July 6th with a strong message about the level of European ambition for Africa in this critical development year."
In Strasbourg yesterday, where MEPs overwhelmingly rejected a motion of censure against Mr Barroso over an alleged conflict of interest, Luxembourg's EU presidency and the EU Commission told the European Parliament that they backed United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan to reform the UN.
Luxembourg foreign affairs minister Nicolas Schmit said poverty, under-development, killer diseases and environmental damages were dangers as serious as those of war and terrorism. He said it was important to consider the links between security, development and the environment.
For the commission, Maltese commissioner Joe Borg said the EU should be represented at all meetings in preparation for the establishment of a peace-building commission.
Both Mr Schmit and Mr Borg stressed the importance of enhancing the role of human rights in any reform of the UN and the strengthening of the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.