Cutting African poverty could unite Europe: Bono

A COMMITMENT to cut poverty in Africa could rekindle public support for the European Union in the wake of the rejection of the EU’s constitution plans by French and Dutch voters, Bono said yesterday.

The U2 frontman had talks with European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, in Brussels yesterday. Afterwards the man in the wrap-around shades said Europe needs a vision and a purpose and ending world poverty provided that.

“I think one of the reasons there is not support for the European Constitution and the dream of Europe is that a lot of people do not share it. I am in a band that travels around the world a lot and what we pick up is a lack of vision, people do not feel European because Europe does not have a kind of vision they can relate to.”