70 organisations join forces to call on the EU to commit to funding global development and climate action

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 six 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

A budget that delivers for people and planet

Joint position paper of 45 organizations

In today’s world, the interconnectedness of societies, ecosystems, and economies is undeniable. Crises like climate change, pandemics, and conflicts transcend borders, affecting everyone, including EU citizens.

To effectively address both current and future crises, as well as setbacks in human rights, sustainable development and gender equality, the EU urgently needs additional resources. Investing in these efforts benefits both EU citizens and people worldwide, reinforcing global security and stability for all.

A bold, forward-looking budget will allow Europe and its partners to be better prepared and more resilient to shocks. For ODA investments to be truly impactful, the EU’s approach to international partnerships must be grounded in a rights-based framework that promotes human dignity, human security, and equity. The needs of people in partner countries, alongside the realization of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, must guide collective efforts.

At the same time, the EU also stands to benefit from ODA investments. Strengthening the EU’s credibility as a genuine international partner helps promote the Union’s values and geopolitical interests. A more peaceful and equitable world is not only a moral goal but also a strategy for long-term prosperity.

This paper sets out why scaling EU ODA to at least €200 billion over the next MFF[1] is a smart investment:

• Europe as a credible, trusted partner: In a time of rising inequality, conflict, climate and health crises, and biodiversity loss, the EU's global commitments have never been more urgent. Historically, the EU has been a leader in tackling global challenges and advancing multilateralism. To remain credible and effective on the world stage, the EU must deliver on its international commitments and boost ODA[2] and climate financing. As other players become more assertive, these resources will afford the EU the ability to shape global action. Without a significant increase in ODA, the EU risks losing the trust of its partners at a time when strong alliances are essential for the future of Europe and of its partner countries.

• Preparedness and prevention cost less than a crisis: People in many of the EU’s partner countries face enormous challenges - from food insecurity, water scarcity and public health crises to the devastating impacts of conflict and climate change. Investing in prevention and preparedness saves lives and is cost-effective: the cost of inaction or delayed responses to climate-related disasters, early warning for conflict or pandemics far outweighs the cost of proactive measures. For instance, the OECD estimates that every $1 invested in conflict prevention helps save $16 down the road.[3] In 2020, scientists calculated the cost of preventing further pandemics over the next decade would amount to just 2% of the estimated financial damage caused by COVID-19.[4] It is therefore in the EU’s political and financial interest to confront the problems head-on by scaling investment in ODA to respond to - and get ahead of - crises.

• Greater resilience in an increasingly complex and polarized world: Investing in resilience -  including through climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, conflict prevention or pandemic preparedness - is critical to the EU's stability and competitiveness, while protecting its partners from climate shocks and health crises. These efforts not only save lives but also bolster global stability by mitigating risks and addressing the root causes of forced displacement, food insecurity and supply chains disruptions. These investments also safeguard the EU’s economic interests. 

• The added-value of unity: A united EU leveraging its collective resources, and channeling a portion of them via the EU budget, can achieve an impact larger than the sum of its parts. Acting together helps drive economies of scale, exploit synergies, obtain wider geographic reach and gives the EU greater ability to shape global action than Member States acting alone.

The bottom line is that global challenges require global cooperation, sustained action in fragile and conflict affected settings as well as substantial resources. Failure to adequately address these challenges is already having devastating impacts on livelihoods around the world and increasing the risk of conflicts, food insecurity and pandemics. Together, these crises could push an additional 132 million people into extreme poverty by 2030[5] whilst prolonging devastating conflicts, persecution and human rights violations which have forced 122.6 million people to flee their homes.[6] 

We therefore urge the EU to:

• Invest at least €200 billion in ODA in the next MFF. To put that into context, the European Commission and Member States spent €3.7 trillion responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

• This amount should be additional to funding for Ukraine. Resolute in its response to Ukraine, as it must be, the EU must also demonstrate its staunch commitment to other partners with whom we must work in partnership in order to tackle global challenges.

• Ensure that greater flexibility in external action is additional to predictable funding. Flexibility is essential for responding to emerging priorities and crises in partner countries. It allows for swift action in unforeseen crises and political shifts, as well as in aligning development efforts with the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. However, increased flexibility should complement, rather than replace, predictability. Predictability is crucial for sustainable development, as it enables long-term systemic reforms that address the root causes of poverty, violence, inequality, and lack of opportunity.

[1] Calculated on the basis of EU Member States reaching their international ODA commitments by 2030 and retaining this level of investment through 2034, and assuming they continue to channel 23.1% of their ODA via the EU budget. Methodology available here.

[2] Council of the European Union, 2024 Annual Report to the European Council on EU Development Aid Targets, 24 June 2024

[3] OECD, States of Fragility 2020, 17 September 2020

[4] Andrew P. Dobson et al., Ecology and economics for pandemic prevention. 24 July 2020

[5] World Bank, Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2022 

[6] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mid-Year Trends, 9 October 2024 

[7] ILO, COVID-19 EU response, 27 October 2021