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Mens EU’s klassiske udviklingspolitik er under pres, mødtes ngo’er for at blive klogere på et modtræk
EU'S BISTAND: Der venter ngo’er og civilsamfundet en svær opgave, når de skal overbevise EU’s magthavere om vigtigheden af udviklings- og klimadagsordenen.
Originally published on Globalnyt
EU'S BISTAND: Der venter ngo’er og civilsamfundet en svær opgave, når de skal overbevise EU’s magthavere om vigtigheden af udviklings- og klimadagsordenen.
”Det her er sindssygt teknisk, men det er også politisk. Det involverer alle beslutningstagere i EU og hjemme i hovedstæderne,” indleder Valentina Barbagallo fra Global Citizen.
Hun faciliterer workshoppen Workshop on EU’s Multi-annual Financial Framework, som NGO’ernes paraplyorganisation Globalt Fokus lægger lokaler til.
Første punkt på dagsordenen er dog ikke så teknisk. Vi, omtrent 20 repræsentanter fra civilsamfundet og ngo-miljøet, skal lære dagens absolut vigtigste forkortelse: MFF: Multi-annual Financial Framework.
Betegnelsen dækker EU’s syv år lange finansielle plan, der kortlægger unionens rammesætning for, hvordan den vil bruge sine penge i den kommende strategiperiode.
Altså er MFF’en ikke et decideret budget, men snarere en plan for, hvordan midlerne prioriteres.
Vi befinder os lige nu midt i den periode, der dækker MFF’en for 2021-2027, så dagens workshop omhandler noget, der umiddelbart for mig fremstår som et lidt fjernt fremtidsscenarie: Strategiperioden for 2028-2034.
“Det her er sindssygt teknisk, men det er også politisk”
Men, understreger Barbagallo til de fremmødte, der stirrer stift på powerpointens diagrammer, de uformelle MFF-forhandlinger for 2028-2034 er allerede i fuld gang.
Pressede prioriteter
MFF’en er vigtig, fordi den guider mere end (og hold nu fast) 15 billioner kroner. Hvor og hvordan pengene bruges, er naturligvis et udpræget politisk spørgsmål.
På workshoppen står det hurtigt klart, at EU’s såkaldte ODA sjældent har været i stridere modvind end netop nu. Og, indrømmet, for undertegnede kræver det en Google-søgning under bordet, før smartphone-skærmen viser, at ODA altså betyder Official Development Aid.
Og ODA og klimapolitikken bliver i stigende grad politiseret, pointerer Barbagallo. Hun gentager flere gange, at Europas ”ekstreme” højrefløj i disse tider har momentum.
Det betyder, at EU-landene i tiltagende grad prioriter EU’s sikkerheds- og migrationsinteresser højere end udviklingsmidler og klimafinansiering. Der er simpelthen i dag færre ”ODA Champions” end tidligere, læser Barbagallo højt fra lærredet.
Allerede i den nuværende MFFs midtvejsevaluering er der skåret 15 milliarder kroner i ODA’en, og fremtidige forhandlinger lover da heller ikke just positivt for klimafinansiering og udviklingsbistand, tilføjer hun.
Læg hertil, at medlemslandene har nægtet at poste flere penge i den overordnede MFF-ramme, og at der i de kommende år forventes stigende finansiering til forsvaret af Ukraine og Europas generelle sikkerhed.
Det dystre billede forstærkes, da Barbagallo nævner, at EU nu også skal betale tilbage på det lån, unionen hentede i markedet i forbindelse med coronapandemien.
Lobbyarbejdet er begyndt
Workshoppen slutter i åben snak. Nu er fokus vendt mod de fremmødte organisationer, der tæller Red Barnet, Læger uden Grænser, Alliancen for Global Sundhed og alt derimellem.
Hvad kan de fremmødte nu stille op, spørges med store bogstaver på oplæggets sidste slide?
Valentina Barbagallo appellerer til, at de fremmødte i det kommende lobbyarbejde bør udforme narrativer, som ræsonnerer med regeringens. Og så er det en god idé, fortsætter hun, at finde ud af, hvem der sætter kursen i EU?
Altså: hvilke rådgivere og embedsmænd sidder måske nok i EU’s baggrund, men har i praktisk forstand væsentlig indflydelse på den kommende MFF? Prik dem da lige på skulderen, er budskabet.
Global Citizen, Barbagallos arbejdsplads, er ambitiøse. De vil kæmpe for at øge EU’s udviklingsbistand og klimafinansiering til mindst 200 milliarder euro i den kommende MFF.
Det bliver svært, indrømmer Barbagallo, men de fremmødte kan hjælpe. Hun præsenterer Global Citizen’s såkaldte MFF Hub, der består af fem arbejdsgrupper, alle sat i verden for at opskalere EU’s midler til udviklingsbistand og klimafinansiering.
En samlet indsats er nødvendig, hvis midler til udviklingsbistand og klimafinansiering skal øverst på EU’s agenda, lød budskabet.
Tavse Danmark
Workshoppen bliver afholdt i Globalt Fokus’ lokaler et stenkast fra Rådhuspladsen i hjertet af hovedstaden. Det ville derfor være på grænsen til blasfemisk, om ikke Danmarks MFF-prioriteter også skulle diskuteres blandt de fremmødte.
For hvordan vil Danmark egentligt påvirke EU’s finansielle arkitektur i de kommende år? Og hvor placerer Danmark sig i den dualisme, der på workshoppen så klart bliver optegnet mellem EU-landenes ”ekstreme” højrefløj og de progressive udviklings- og klimafortalere?
Der er i lokalet bred enighed om, at regeringen holder igen med information. Der bliver sågar snakket om ”manglende transparens” i udarbejdelsen af danske MFF-prioriteter.
Noget tyder i den forbindelse på, at Danmark i udviklingspolitisk forstand i øjeblikket jonglerer med enormt mange bolde.
Den 1. juli 2025 overtager Danmark formandskabet i EU, og i skrivende stund er den nye udviklingspolitiske strategi endnu ikke fremlagt. Ikke mange af workshopdeltagerne forventer at høre nyt om Danmarks MFF-prioriteter, før den udviklingspolitiske strategi er udformet.
Selvom det forventes, at strategien – som ventes offentliggjort i det sene forår – vil læne sig op ad Afrika-strategien, så lyder en opsummerende bemærkning fra en delegeret, at ”Danmark er usikker på, hvad man skal mene på udviklingsområdet.”
Der nikkes rundt om bordene.
Globalnyt har i kølvandet på workshoppen været i kontakt med Udenrigsministeriet, der i et skriftligt svar oplyser, at ”det er for tidligt at melde prioriteter ud for formandskabet. Det sker, når vi kommer tættere på. Vi forventer dog, at mange af de aktuelle dagsordener også vil fylde under dansk formandskab, blandt andet sikkerhed og forsvar, EU’s geopolitiske rolle, at sikre en stærk og konkurrencedygtig økonomi og fremme den grønne og digitale omstilling.”
Revealed: EU plan to merge aid funds raises fears of potential cuts
A proposed "single instrument” would prioritize help for new EU members and "blow apart" existing development work, CSOs are warning.
A proposed "single instrument” would prioritize help for new EU members and "blow apart" existing development work, CSOs are warning.
The European Union has triggered fears of further international aid cuts after drawing up plans to merge its funding tools for development and relief programs with its priority work to prepare new member countries.
The proposal would create “a single instrument” covering development spending, humanitarian aid, and assistance to neighboring nations seeking to join the bloc, according to a confidential document seen by Devex.
The move — prompted by the new European Commission’s desire to streamline its many funding streams — would sweep away the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, or NDICI, and humanitarian aid instrument, or HUMA, both created in 2021.
The Stakes Are High: Why The EU Needs An Ambitious External Budget
As leaders enter 2025, they must focus on three key factors: the scale of the threat Europe faces, the need to rebuild trust, and the urgency of delivering impact.
Originally published on Forbes
The world is undergoing a series of profound geopolitical shifts marked by rising tensions, strategic rivalries, and democratic backsliding.
The analysis is crystal clear; however, whether the European Union (EU) can forge the solutions needed to navigate this reality - and, crucially, avoid creating trade-offs between its interests and values - remains to be seen. As leaders enter 2025 and evaluate Europe’s role in the world, they must focus on three key factors: the scale of the threat Europe faces, the need to rebuild trust, and the urgency of delivering impact.
Firstly, the challenges facing our planet are staggering, and failure to act is already devastatingly impacting lives and livelihoods worldwide, increasing the risk of conflicts, food insecurity, and pandemics. Together, according to the World Bank, these crises could push 132 million people into extreme poverty by 2030. Yet, a substantial funding gap persists to address these cascading challenges. The energy transition and development of emerging economies demand significant investments, estimated by the UN and International Energy Agency at $2.5 trillion annually.
Secondly, as the world grapples with these crises, a trust deficit has emerged between Europe and its partners, particularly Africa. The mid-term revision of the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which sets the EU’s long-term budget for a seven-year period, signaled a shift in priorities, raising concerns about the EU's commitment to global issues. It is crucial to recognize that Europe's interests are intertwined with those of its partners. A course correction is needed to show that the EU can align self-interest with common interest whilst upholding its international commitments and responsibilities.
Finally, Europe must act urgently. Given the evolving and urgent global challenges, investments in preparedness and prevention cannot wait. Delaying action will only exacerbate existing difficulties, making them more complicated and more costly to address in the future. The consequences of inaction are far-reaching and outweigh the relatively small upfront costs of boosting global resilience. Ensuring the continued transparency and accountability of funds will be essential to achieving a tangible, lasting impact.
If leaders weigh these three critical realities, they will see that an ambitious external action budget in the next long-term budget is a robust response to today’s threats and will limit costly trade-offs between the bloc’s values and interests.
This year’s negotiations on the next MFF are an opportunity for the EU to plan for positive engagement in a global landscape that sorely needs it. The choices made now will affect not only the EU's financial health but also its geopolitical influence and help determine the security it can provide for its citizens and the world - in terms of health, economics, human rights, and safety.
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. In response to a world in turmoil, 70 organizations are uniting to urge the EU to deepen its global engagement and reaffirm its commitment to international partnerships through an ambitious external action budget in the next MFF - and we are just getting started.
Our ambitions are big, but the stakes are higher. A strong EU, backed by a forward-looking budget, is essential in today’s complex and volatile environment and a critical tool for achieving the EU’s interests and promoting its values. By significantly increasing funding for global development and climate action, the EU can help shape a future where individuals thrive, nations prosper, and our planet flourishes.
70 organisations join forces to call on the EU to commit to funding global development and climate action
For the first time, on 9 December, 70 organisations initiated a joint effort to call for the European Union (EU) to increase its funding for development, humanitarian assistance and climate action in the next long-term budget of the EU.
Brussels, 9 December 2024
For the first time, on 9 December, 70 organisations initiated a joint effort to call for the European Union (EU) to increase its funding for development, humanitarian assistance and climate action in the next long-term budget of the EU.
As the EU is embarking on the discussions about the architecture of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2035, partners from around the world and across diverse sectors are coming together to call on the EU to commit the necessary funding to meet its global goals — from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals to upholding the Paris Agreement.
The effort was initiated by four founding organizations - Aidsfonds, Global Citizen, The ONE Campaign, and Pandemic Action Network.
Kasia Lemańska, EU Representative of Aidsfonds, said: “The next EU budget runs until 2035. Decisions made today will shape our shared future. Marginalization and fear should never be anyone's fate. The EU has the power to reverse the human rights backslide - but it needs the right level of investments. This is the sustainable path to shared prosperity and security. ”
Valentina Barbagallo, EU Representative & Climate Lead at Global Citizen, said: “The stakes have never been higher for Europe to fill the concerning gap in global leadership. Hunger and poverty are on the raise and a decade after the Paris Agreement, promises to protect our planet remain unfulfilled. Without sufficient funding to support partner countries in the green transition, the cost of inaction will be felt by us all. As the European Commission prepares its budget proposal for the next seven years, we need EU institutions and member states to rally around a shared vision for strong external action.”
Emily Wigens, EU Director, at The ONE Campaign said: "Investing in global development, humanitarian aid, and climate action isn't just the right thing to do — it’s in Europe’s best interest. Africa has immense human and natural capital that will be key to driving the green transition and global economy. A strong, resilient Africa is essential for Europe’s prosperity and stability. We’re joining forces to make sure the EU delivers for its international partners and boosts its budget for external action for the benefit of citizens both at home and abroad."
Eloise Todd, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Pandemic Action Network, said: “Our partnership of 70 organizations from across the world will strive to shape a long-term EU budget that delivers on our most urgent challenges. Investing ambitiously and effectively in international action on climate, peace, health, and development is the only way the EU can thrive across 27 Member States and internationally. Our growing partnership of organizations will be urging the EU to look outwards, not inwards, in its future spending plans.”
In our increasingly interdependent world, the EU has a choice: it can engage positively on global challenges or retreat from the international stage. The EU must deepen its engagement and commitment to its partners to face the global crises. By increasing its external funding, the EU can shape a future where individuals thrive, nations prosper, and our planet flourishes. All like-minded partners are invited to join this effort calling for a EU that delivers for the world.
The newly established MFF Hub will be a repository for information and insight into the next MFF negotiations. Via the Hub, partners can closely follow the MFF negotiations developments and take action based on the latest policy analysis and commentary on the process.
In conjunction with the launch, partners also started a petition calling on the EU to fund a bold, fair budget that tackles global crises and builds a safer, sustainable future for all. Sign it here.
Background
The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) determines the budget spending of the EU for a period of at least five years. The current MFF runs from 2021 to 2027. The EU institutions and Member States are starting to elaborate the new MFF for the period of seven years, from 2028 to 2035. During this process, the EU will determine its priorities and their budget size. The first proposal by the European Commission is expected in June 2025, which will set out the regulation laying down the MFF (the headings, instruments, structure, legal basis). This proposal will have to be adopted by the Council of Ministers by unanimity, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament before 2028.
Contact
Kasia Lemanska: +32 489 04 48 22 // KLemanska@aidsfonds.nl // Aidsfonds
Caroline Head: +32 471 68 29 43 // caroline.head@globalcitizen.org // Global Citizen
Guadalupe Casas: +32 472 71 74 20 // guadalupe.casas@one.org // The ONE Campaign
Autumn Lerner: +1 206 234 1156 // autumn.lerner@pandemicactionnetwork.org // Pandemic Action Network