The EU is the largest donor of overseas aid in the world, giving a total of €46 billion in aid to developing countries in 2007. With all this money being spent on aid, it is essential that the EU has a strong and coherent development strategy.

The Lisbon Treaty makes eradication of poverty the primary aim of the Union’s development policy (Article 21.2).

It also strengthens the ability of the Union to shape international development policy by coordinating member states’ positions in international organisations (Article 34) and giving the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy a greater voice on issues that all 27 governments agree on (Article 27).

“In a world where the combination of man-made and physical disasters is increasing and will probably continue to increase, it is important that Europe equips itself with the policy framework to respond to that.”

–Tom Arnold, Chief Executive of Concern

“Trócaire welcomes the fact that the Lisbon treaty makes poverty reduction the main objective of EU development policy. That means the €46 billion of aid money the EU gives annually cannot legally be used for purposes other than tackling poverty.”

Justin Kilcullen, Director of Trócaire