With the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union discussing in these days the next European Financial Framework for the period 2021-27, the appeal for a more peaceful and weaponless Union urges to a new project of peace, with a redeployment of funding from the military industry to budget lines regarding peacebuilding actions.
What do we ask
Tens of organisations already signed the appeal proposed by Forum ZDF, asking for European policies to be more focused on human rights defence and peace. The three main calls are to:
- Campaign for a European Union that adheres to the European peace project instead of becoming a military power;
- Do not let the European Union provide arms to states that wage war or violate human rights to ward off refugees and migration;
- Increase the funds of the European Union for the promotion of non-violent conflict transformation and human rights.
The budget
The new European defence fund has a proposed budget of EUR 13 billion for armaments research and the development of new arms systems. Moreover, the rise of right-wing populism across Europe is likely to push for more expenses in the sector, to build border fortifications and military security policy.
Among the rest, this appeal is to request EUR 7 billion for non-violent conflict transformation and peacebuilding and EUR 3 billion for the promotion of human rights and democracy in the next EU financial framework (2021-2027).
Peace as a value
Nevertheless, the Treaty of Lisbon itself states that “the Union’s aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples” (Art. 3). The European defence Fund goes totally in the opposite direction: it foresees the use of the Community budget for the European Union to finance armament projects and military operations.
Here you can find the signatories and the appeal more in detail.
