The Next MFF: Ensuring Humanitarian Action Takes One Step Forward, Not Two Steps Back
We welcome President Von der Leyen and Commissioner Serafin’s announcement of a substantial €200 billion for "Global Europe" - the new external action instrument - in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), with an indicative amount of €25 billion for Humanitarian Aid, representing a significant increase over the current budget (around €11 billion in the 2021-2027 MFF framework). This commitment acknowledges the EU's expanding global responsibilities and the need for robust external action across various areas.
However, we are deeply concerned by the apparent lack of a clear, dedicated budget line for humanitarian action within this ambitious framework, being now downplayed as a “policy tool”, particularly as the funds seem to be absorbed into five broad geographic pillars in the Global Europe Instrument (Enlargement and Neighbourhood East area; Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf; Asia and the Pacific; Americas and the Caribbean ; and Sub Saharan Africa), and a Global affair pillar. The absence of a detailed proposal for “Global Europe” at this stage, makes it challenging to properly analyse the impact on humanitarian operations.
Given the escalating global humanitarian needs and the EU's established role as a leading humanitarian donor, it is crucial that the new MFF explicitly safeguards funding given the rising number of people living in crisis affected areas, currently 310 million people worldwide.
We urge the Commission to publish a comprehensive breakdown that clarifies how humanitarian action will remain principled, ensuring its needs-based delivery is not diluted or deprioritised amidst broader geopolitical objectives.
Now that the proposal puts forward €25 billion, we must ensure this amount is not only maintained throughout the forthcoming discussions but allocated based on needs and not as a “policy tool”. This is crucial to ensure that the increasing flexibility of the instrument would not result into any politicisation of humanitarian action or a reduction of its funding in the long term.
VOICE will continue to advocate for a dedicated, ring-fenced humanitarian action budget line, adequately funded for the whole period. Read VOICE's full recommendations here.
