Civil society letter to EU leaders ahead of the European Council
13 March 2026
Dear European Heads of State and Government,
Against an increasingly fraught backdrop of geopolitics, the clock is ticking for the EU to agree to its next 7-year budget. At a time of geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and growing global fragility, Europe needs a coherent approach that brings together diplomacy, defence and development in a mutually reinforcing way.
A long-term budget that is future-proof will support an outward-looking EU that engages constructively in the world. The level of overall spending must reflect the scale of our shared challenges by delivering the purpose, power and level of international partnership that the EU needs in these unprecedented times. Failure to step up collectively alongside the global partners we need to build trust with is not sound fiscal policy and risks future security. The Global Europe Instrument is central to these efforts, as our first line of defence against crises elsewhere that will have significant spillover effects on Europe.
The adoption of new Own Resources will be central to securing this ambition. New predictable revenues for the EU budget are essential for bridging the gap between our ambition and current fiscal constraints. Where there is no consensus, we urge you to move quickly to find alternative revenue streams. Leaving options on the table at this time, when the threat to Europe and our collective goals is so big, would be irresponsible and dim the prospect of a more prosperous, secure collective future.
A well-resourced Global Europe Instrument allows the EU to deepen diplomatic engagement, foster fair and sustainable trade relationships, promote human development, and uphold international law and multilateral cooperation. When we invest in the stability of our partners, we are taking measures to avoid steeper costs later: it is 100 times cheaper to invest in prevention than it is to respond to a crisis.
Additional defence spending must be proportionally matched by investments in development and diplomacy. At present, the EU collectively allocates US$2.40 to defence for every US$1 on development and diplomacy combined, making it a prevention-oriented and balanced security actor. There is a risk that in responding to today's “might makes right” politics, that Europe under-indexes on prevention and resilience investments and only focuses on immediate needs.
Additional defence spending must be proportionally matched by investments in development and diplomacy. At present, the EU collectively allocates US$2.40 to defence for every US$1 on development and diplomacy combined, making it a prevention-oriented and balanced security actor. There is a risk that in responding to today's “might makes right” politics, that Europe under-indexes on prevention and resilience investments and only focuses on immediate needs. If current defence spending trends continue, this comparative advantage will erode with the spending ratio potentially rising to US$4.6 in defence for US$1 in prevention by 2031. Longer term investments in health systems, education, social and environmental protection are core aspects of resilience to prevent shocks from escalating into crises and make Europe better prepared for the future.
Evidence shows that Europe does well economically when it does good in the world. For every €1 the EU invests in external development, we see at least €1 in direct economic activity through exports and trade partnerships.
Europe cannot afford to be a spectator in today’s geopolitical arena. We must carve our own course, and preserve the delicate balance between defence, resilience and preparedness that amount to our security. To deliver a budget capable of safeguarding these critical elements of our future, we urge you to approach negotiations with courage and determination.
Yours sincerely,
Aidsfonds
Aids-Fondet
Conservation International Europe
Danish Alliance for Global Health
Friends of the Global Fund Europe
Global Citizen
Hivos
Rani (Resilience Action Network International)
RANA
The HALO Trust
The ONE Campaign
WaterAid
Wetlands International Europe
1. https://data.one.org/analysis/conflict-prevention-less-costly
2. https://cdn.one.org/pdfs/ONE_MSC_report_2026.pdf
3. https://odi.org/en/media-centre/at-a-critical-time-for-eu-budgeting-odi-global-study-highlights-returns-on-development-aid/#:~:text=Highlighting%20that%20the%20projected%20economic,Executive%20Director%2C%20Pandemic%20Action%20Network