euronews I talk – Should the EU remain the world’s leading aid donor?

www.euronews.com All European Union citizens pay for aid to non-EU countries. More and more EU citizens are asking how much, where does it go and does anyone really know what happens to it? Joining us on ITalk today, Andris Piebalgs, EU Development Commissioner. Our first question comes from Daniel. Daniel, Cuba: “Hello my name is Daniel, I am from Cuba and live in Brussels. My question for the Commission is whether Europe is going to remain the world’s leading donor or will the crisis push the EU into second place behind the United States.” Alex Taylor: “So are we going to be able to continue being the first donor?” Andris Piebalgs: “Well it seems so. I would definitely wish that others were more ambitious because the EU is by far the strongest development aid supporter in the world. We give at least 0.42 percent of GNI, and the US and Japan roughly 0.2, so I wish that they would follow the Europeans.” Alex Taylor: “Why do we continue to do this in the current economic crisis?” Andris Piebalgs: “Well, when the crisis strikes, it strikes the poorest countries more than more developed countries. There’s less trade, less demand and more poverty. So, I believe that in times of crisis it is even more important to look towards poor countries because poverty creates insecurity, war and conflict. It’s very clear that we can’t, in times of crisis, forget the world because it will hit us back.” Alex Taylor: “Ok, to press you on this point, another question on the same theme …