On Wednesday 9 July, MEPs discussed the results of the International Conference on Financing for Development (‘FFD4’), held in Seville from 30 June to 3 July. A few days before the event, the members of the European Parliament had failed to agree on their expectations regarding development funding (see EUROPE 13661/21).
For Lukas Mandl (EPP, Austrian), there is a lesson to learn from the rejection of the report in June: “stick together because there is a lot at stake”. However, he welcomed the adoption the previous day of another report which included a passage on development (see EUROPE 13677/8).
Charles Goerens (Renew Europe, Belgian), who was rapporteur on the text rejected in June, agreed: “I call on you to return to the well-established practice in this House of seeking compromise at the centre of the political spectrum.”
S&D member Marit Maij (Dutch) regretted the weight of the far right in the Chamber, which advocates less development aid: “In 2025, we will have a record number of billionaires, while people are dying of hunger”.
Opposite him, Tiago Moreira de Sá (PfE, Portuguese) defended his group’s position. In his view, the “new political majority has understood what many want to ignore: the new funding model no longer works”.
The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, has warned against cuts in funding. “Development is not an ideological issue. It’s not a right or left issue. It’s a forward thinking strategic investment”. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)