The development aid budget could be ‘a little’ below current levels after 2015, Christian Democrat leader Sybrand van Haersma Buma told an election meeting in Breda on Monday.

‘We are committed to 0.7% of gross domestic product until 2015. After that it could be a little less, but better,’ the CDA leader said during the debate organised by regional broadcasters and local paper De Stem. ‘Dutch companies can play an important role in that.’
The CDA has always stuck firmly to the 0.7% standard. Although the figure was missing from the draft version of the party’s new election manifesto, it was re-included by popular vote at the CDA congress at the end of June.