During the first week of February the European Council will meet to decide the EU’s financial priorities and to outline a spending plan covering the next seven years. This spending plan includes the EU’s commitments to development and humanitarian aid, and unfortunately it seems likely that EU development funding could be cut back significantly.
The EU is currently the largest provider of development and humanitarian aid in the world, but these talks put both the European Development Fund (EDF) and the Global Europe Heading Four (H4) funding at stake. The current proposal to reduce both of these important funding sources - from 70b. to 60,6b. for the H4 and from 30b. to 26b for the EDF –will serious jeopardize the EU’s longstanding commitment to fulfilling the 0.7% aid target and ultimately weaken the EU’s leading role in the fight against global poverty.
CARE International has been involved since these discussions began in 2011 and has advocated strongly against these cuts to the H4 and EDF. CARE has argued that the decision to reduce these funds will put at risk the progress made so far towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and will represent a lost opportunity for many of the world’s poor to move out of poverty.
As a member of Concord, the European NGO confederation, CARE International calls on EU Member States to uphold their responsibilities at these upcoming talks and to ensure that the EU continues to be a key global actor in the fight against poverty. If the EU is to fulfill its role as a responsible global player, all EU member states must oppose additional cuts to these important development funds. You can learn more about this important issue by visiting the Concord website.
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve education, health and economic opportunity.