The European Commission's €200 billion plan makes aid more flexible and geopolitical, raising concerns over needs-based development policy
The European Union is trying to overhaul how it spends foreign aid, aiming to prioritise security, migration and its own economic interests.
“In a world where investments, infrastructure, supply chains have become instruments of power, foreign policy cannot be sentimental,” Jozef Síkela, the international partnerships commissioner, said on Monday ahead of a meeting of EU development ministers.
Under the European Commission proposal for the 2028-2034 budget cycle, the EU would allocate roughly €200 billion to the “Global Europe” instrument for development cooperation, humanitarian aid and neighbourhood policy. The plan includes a €25 billion fund for rapid emergency response, while a separate €100 billion Ukraine facility would sit outside of the budget.
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