Unbiased AI-powered news
Alexander De Croo stated that the European Union's €2 trillion multi-annual financial framework can integrate defence and development spending. The proposal for 2028-2034 is under debate ahead of a hoped-for December ratification.
EuronewsAlexander De Croo, administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, said on Thursday that the European Union's long-term budget can balance defence and aid spending. He described the two areas as "two sides of the same coin" during an interview with Euronews.
De Croo noted that increased military spending is understandable in current circumstances but argued that investment in conflict prevention is required for military efforts to succeed.
A stable neighbourhood, he said, supports economic growth, democracy and peace. The European Commission proposed €2 trillion in spending for the 2028-2034 period in June last year as part of the multi-annual financial framework. European heads of state are debating the plan before expected ratification in the European Parliament, with a December deadline targeted.
The proposal prioritises competitiveness and defence, allocating €131 billion to the latter. No dedicated aid stream exists, though the €200 billion Global Europe Instrument covers outreach activities under various headings. De Croo attended the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, Poland, this month.
The UNDP has delivered electricity to more than 6.6 million civilians in Ukraine through support for veterans, de-mining and civilian needs. De Croo visited Gaza in February and described conditions there as dramatic, with more than 80 percent of residents having lost their homes and living in makeshift structures.
He called the level of poverty gigantic and urged greater humanitarian access for aid organisations while acknowledging security concerns over potential misuse of materials.
Single source — no framing comparison available.
theiranproject.comRussian forces attacked Kyiv for more than 11 hours overnight into July 2 with missiles and drones. The strike killed at least 30 people and injured 85 others.
Peru's National Jury of Elections certified Keiko Fujimori as the winner of the June 7 runoff on July 3 with 50.14 percent of the vote. She will take office on July 28 as the country's ninth president in ten years.
theiranproject.comRussian President Vladimir Putin addressed his party's congress in Moscow on June 28, describing the current period as pivotal without mentioning the word war. The remarks came amid Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and high military spending.