The European Commission president glossed over aid and development in his latest state of the union address, where he pitched the idea of a “federation of nation states.”
Development and EU leadership in a changing world, according to José Manuel Barroso, are among the benefits of creating a “democratic federation of nation states” where European countries will have pooled sovereignty.
“Sharing sovereignty in Europe means being more sovereign in a global world,” the European Commission president said. “More than ever our citizens and the new world order need an active and influential Europe.”
Barroso stressed that the European Union must keep its leadership of development and humanitarian aid efforts, as well as the fight against climate change, among other international issues. Shared sovereignty, he said, would allow the bloc to succeed in this.
Meanwhile, in New York, EU aid commissioner Kristalina Georgieva has pledged continuous assistance in efforts to help and protect children during emergencies.
The European Union’s support for children and other less fortunate populations remains “unwavering,” she said in her first-ever remarks before UNICEF’s executive board. The European Commission and UNICEF also signed three funding agreements: a €6.4 million ($8.2 million) deal for health clinics and medical supplies in Ivory Coast, 600,000 for emergency cholera treatment in Niger, and 750,000 for efforts to prevent disasters for children in four other African countries.
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About the author
Ivy Mungcal
As former senior staff writer, Ivy Mungcal contributed to several Devex publications. Her focus is on breaking news, and in particular on global aid reform and trends in the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas. Before joining Devex in 2009, Ivy produced specialized content for U.S. and U.K.-based business websites.
