Parliament delivers on Global Europe - Member States now need to catch up

“The European Parliament has sent a clear message to the Council today: defaulting to the status quo is a strategic retreat that Europe simply cannot afford. 

By calling for a boost to the EU’s Global Europe budget, MEPs have signalled that our external action is a fundamental component of how Europe navigates today’s complex global challenges. The EU needs to be equipped to lead, not just react. Parliament has understood this, now Member States need to get on board. Europe needs the resources and tools to build powerful strategic partnerships that deliver human development, prosperity and diplomatic ties we can count on in an increasingly competitive world. The Parliament is also clear that money isn’t enough: targets are much needed political tools that allow co-legislators to set direction and hold spending to account.

The Parliament also backs a new “Own Resources” agreement, which would ensure the next MFF is sustainable and resourced to a level commensurate with the scale of challenges the EU faces. We call on the Council to match the Parliament’s determination, securing an agreement that signals that Europe means business and will be a predictable, reliable partner.”

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Notes for 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.

• The European Parliament’s interim report:

  • Considers it necessary to increase the budget allocation for the Global Europe instrument to EUR 225 billion in current prices (equivalent to EUR 198.63 billion in 2025 constant prices); 

  • Calls the reinforcement of Global Europe “absolutely crucial”, citing rising development needs and inequalities, humanitarian crises, an unprecedented number of crises, conflicts and overall fragilities, decarbonisation, global health and the need to support Ukraine and other partners;

  • Regrets the lack of thematic targets in Global Europe that would allow the co-legislators to set strategic priorities;

  • Considers it essential for decommitted funds from external action projects to flow back to the budget line of origin, safeguarding predictable funding levels for the EU’s external action;

  • Calls for EUR 25 billion minimum commitment for humanitarian assistance;

  • Notes with concern that the ODA target for the Global Europe Instrument has dropped to 90%, compared with 93% in the NDICI, and rejects the idea that this target could be adjusted during the course of the next MFF; and

  • Calls for the introduction of new “Own Resources” totaling at least EUR 60 billion per year.