Bono joins president Schulz in call for sufficient development aid

U2 frontman Bono made a plea to save development aid from being cut in the upcoming EU budget for 2014-2020 during a meeting at the European Parliament. EP president Martin Schulz voiced his support for the singer's call: "Development aid is a great example of how Europe changes lives."

The coming months the Parliament will negotiate the EU's long-term budget with the European Commission and the Council. Mr Schulz said he agreed with Bono on maintaining sufficient funding for development aid to reflect the EU's commitments to developing countries.

"European development aid, after all, is one of the EU's greatest successes, changing the lives of millions of people all over the world, from measles vaccines to access to water, to the education of women and children," Mr Schulz said following the meeting with the Irish rock star.  "The European Parliament is on the side of an ambitious European budget because we believe Europe must deliver for the less well off people of this world. We can be proud of what we have achieved with development aid over the years, many member states share this view and should support an ambitious long-term EU budget."