The future financing of the EU’s external action in a complex geopolitical context of major global crises – including the war in Ukraine and the war in the Middle East – was discussed by the EU Member States’ Ministers for Development on Monday 12 February at their informal meeting, hosted by the Egmont Palace in Brussels (see EUROPE 13347/10).
It was dominated by the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, discussed for the first time by EU ministers with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini (see other news).
The Single Financial Instrument for Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation (NDICI-Global Europe) in the 2021-2027 budget is undergoing a mid-term review to make it more effective. This was an opportunity for the ministers to discuss the priorities for the 2024-2027 period.
We need to understand here “how best to use our tools in a multipolar and dangerous world”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borell, who chaired the meeting and briefed the ministers on his visit to Ukraine. He reminded the press of the EU’s desire to continue its support for Ukraine and emerging countries.
“The NDICI and Global Gateway [the EU’s €300 billion investment strategy in partner countries up to 2027] are important instruments for Europe in the rest of the world. We need partnerships in these times of global geopolitical turmoil; it is really important that the EU’s offer is well understood and focuses on soft power, in areas such as education and health in the global South”, pointed out the Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation and Major Cities, Caroline Gennez (see EUROPE 13335/3, 13321/2).
Priority to Africa, stressed the French Secretary of State, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, on her arrival.
Jochen Flasbarth, Germany’s State Secretary for Economic Cooperation and his country’s representative on the platform for reconstruction in Ukraine, welcomed the approval of the €50 billion ‘Ukraine Facility’ “to support the government, but also already for reconstruction”, and said he would “be returning to Kyiv in the next few days”.
He also cited the Sahel as a strategic priority to be maintained, following the succession of coups d’état in West Africa. “Our German point of view, which we share with most of the Member States, is that we must remain committed, that we must not abandon the populations in these countries, otherwise we will drive them to turn even more towards Russia and China. It is therefore very important for the EU to be consistent, and we expect the same from the European External Action Service: that there should be no confusion in positions at international level”.
Consistently, he assured us that his government was “fully in favour of the directive on corporate due diligence from the point of view of development policy”, even if Germany abstained in the final vote on this dossier (see EUROPE 13347/1).
Spain’s new Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Eva Granados Galiano, stressed the importance of the UN’s “Agenda 2030” and reiterated her “firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and reconstruction”.
Other humanitarian crises were also mentioned, at a time when 300 million vulnerable people around the world are in need of humanitarian aid. The Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, pointed out the shortfall in funding to cover needs. On the same day, the Commission announced an initial humanitarian budget of €1.8 billion to meet the world’s humanitarian needs in 2024 (see other news).
The formal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in its Development format will take place on 7 May. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)