Lisbon seeks poverty abolition - Labour

The Lisbon treaty brings the abolition of world poverty to the heart of EU policy, Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa said today.

Mr De Rossa, who is canvassing in Galway, said the treaty contained “genuine progress on the development agenda” that was not in the current treaties.

“The Treaty makes the eradication - not just the reduction - of world poverty the primary aim of EU development policy. This is a very important confirmation that EU development policy is a policy in its own right and is not subservient to other EU policies such as trade or foreign policies,” the MEP said.

“It also adds the objective of fair trade to its longstanding commitment to free trade.”

Mr De Rossa said the Lisbon treaty confirms that EU development policy would be “the main framework” governing EU cooperation with all developing countries, and that the EU and its members must comply with their UN development commitments.

“Lisbon would also create for the first time a legal base for EU humanitarian aid. The aims of this policy are clear, to protect people in third countries who are the victims of natural and man-made disasters, and humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality and non-discrimination are prominent.”

The MEP added that the placement of development and humanitarian objectives to the forefront of European policy “fits very well” with Ireland’s traditional peace keeping and humanitarian approach.