MEPs Defend EU’s Global Ambitions, But Crucial Gaps Remain

Joint statement from ONE, Aidsfonds, Global Citizen and rani - co-founders of the MFF Hub, a network of over 100 organizations campaigning to increase financing for development, humanitarian help and global climate action in the next MFF.

In response to the adoption of the Global Europe Instrument (GEI) regulation by the Foreign Affairs and Development committees in the European Parliament, the MFF Hub co-founders said:

“The Global Europe Instrument (GEI) is one of the EU’s primary tools for building resilience and forging alliances in an increasingly competitive and unstable world. Today, the Parliament’s lead committees adopted several key safeguards to strengthen the EU’s global ambitions, but glaring omissions remain.

By reinstating a 20% target for human development, MEPs have signaled that the EU’s focus on vital health and education investments is essential, particularly as other donors step back. MEPs also took decisive action to protect the GEI’s Global Pillar, an essential move after its proposed budget was slashed by 25% in the Irish negotiating box. Securing a minimum level of investment here will preserve the EU’s leadership in shaping global outcomes through multilateral partnerships - a win-win for Europeans and partner countries alike.

However, the report leaves a dangerous gap by failing to ringfence funding for sub-Saharan Africa - a region whose proposed budget is currently slated for a 14% reduction in the latest budget proposal put forward by the Irish Presidency. With 11 of the 15 fastest-growing economies in the world located in Africa, the continent is increasingly consequential for Europe's future competitiveness. It is in the EU’s interest to ringfence this funding and reverse these short-sighted cuts.

The €200.3 billion budget for GEI, proposed by the European Commission, is the bare minimum needed to match the EU’s geopolitical ambitions. Europe cannot become stronger or safer by shortchanging the partners our future depends on, or by underinvesting in the global public goods that underpin our shared security, stability and prosperity.”

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Notes to Editors

• The MFF Hub is an informal network that rallies efforts to increase financing for development, humanitarian help and global climate action in the next MFF, including through new own resources.