17/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - At the recent meeting of the Prix Charlemagne in Barcelona (see EUROPE of 13 May, p.5), the Grand Duke du Luxembourg, a winner on behalf of the Luxembourg nation, made a speech in favour of strengthened EU action to fight world poverty. Europe is "the world's largest donor", he said, pointing out that Luxembourg has "spent over 0.80% of our GNP on development aid, although there was nothing to preordain my country, with no experience in colonial adventures, from committing itself so determinedly". Many Europeans are in favour of more public money being spent on development aid and less on defence, he said, adding that over 90% of Luxembourgers want to see more aid to poor countries. The budgetisation of the EDF (European Development Fund), "which we have been talking about for twenty years", should afford the European development policy greater visibility.