Clare Daly: Calls EU war measures a 'corporate handout'

Clare Daly spoke on 19 May 2022 about an EU resolution intended to offset the costs of the war. She argued the resolution entrenches sanctions and increased militarisation that hurt ordinary people and amounts to a corporate handout.

Main argument

Clare Daly said the aim of the resolution is to put in place measures to offset the costs of continuing the war, but she criticised that approach as misguided. She described sanctions as harming people within the European Union and said the measures do not enhance but undermine European security.

Impact on ordinary people

Daly warned that ordinary people are paying the price of the war through economic and social costs. She emphasised that resources being redirected toward securitisation and militarisation could instead address public needs.

Critique of militarisation and securitisation

She accused decision-makers in committees of "slobbering over vast sums of money being ring-fenced for increased militarisation and securitisation" and called this policy one of the contributors to the start of the war. Daly framed the push for more military spending as both counterproductive and dangerous.

Weak conditionality and corporate handout

While noting some references to environmental conditionality and rule of law conditionality in the measures, Daly judged those provisions weak. She concluded that, in practice, the package risks functioning as a corporate handout rather than genuinely helping affected populations.

Alternative priorities for resources

Daly suggested the same resources could be used to address everyday problems such as health, housing and public services. She argued the resolution diverts funds away from social needs toward further militarisation, leaving ordinary people to bear the costs.