€123 billion, or around 10% of the total budget, has been allocated to external action in the draft multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 of the EU, which was presented by the European Commission on Wednesday 2 May (see EUROPE 12013). European development NGOs have welcomed this amount, whilst expressing concern at the fact that the budget places the development funds under the heading of EU external policy.
The CONCORD network fears that merging 12 financial instruments could undermine development cooperation objectives: by diluting development aid within a broader external policy instrument, the EU would be not just allowing, but actively encouraging the use of public development aid to serve the short-term priorities and interests of the EU, such as border control.
“The fact that migration is set as a priority confirms our concern of development policy being progressively reoriented towards EU self-interests. Instead of entitling the EU to blur development cooperation with foreign policy and crisis management, the new budget should prioritise long-standing development objectives”, says Karine Sohet, CONCORD expert on MFF.
The NGOs expressed concern at the fact that human rights and gender issues are relegated to the rank of second-tier priorities, within a vast instrument that focuses on establishing partnerships with the countries of the neighbourhood or other countries to tackle the migration, security and economic challenges facing the EU. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)