CONCORD's reaction to EU Budget Proposal EU Budget: development aid low-ranked in favour of EU's own political interests Brussels, 2 May 2018 - Today, the European Commission has released its communication on the Multiannual Financial framework (2021-2027). CONCORD, the European Confederation of development NGOs, welcomes the budget dedicated to external actions but raises concern on the merge of external instruments allocated to development aid which will put aid objectives in jeopardy. Despite the ever-changing environment for development aid, the communication sets out that €123 billion, representing approximatively 10% of the total EU budget, is allocated to external action. CONCORD welcomes the EC's proposal reflecting on its dedication to uphold and promote EU values and interests conceded in quantitative terms.   "With adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, Europe has taken serious commitment towards global solidarity and a more sustainable world. Development aid has its role to play in making these plans a reality and ensuring no one is left behind. By suggesting to increase the external action allocation in the new EU budget proposal in comparison to the previous framework, the EC reinforces this general commitment. Yet, the EU as a whole – including bilateral budgets from Member States – needs to take further significant steps to live up to giving itself the means to confirm its engagement." says Johannes Trimmel, CONCORD President. Indeed, solely congratulating the budget allocation would disregard the main concern on how these funds will be distributed within the instruments. The current proposal, merging 12 instruments, will endanger development cooperation objectives in favour of EU external policy interests. By diluting development aid in a broader external instrument framework, the EU will not only allow, but bolster the use of ODA for EU domestic priorities. Given that aid is increasingly diverted in favour of border control and short-sighted migration policy (show recent reports), CONCORD is worried that the high percentage of unallocated funds in the heading "Neighbourhood and the World" would result in reinforcing the risk of funds being used to carry out short-term EU interests. "The fact that migration is set as a priority confirms our concern of development policy being progressively re-oriented toward 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 from ACT Alliance EU. In addition, CONCORD is concerned that issues like Human Rights or Gender will no longer receive the attention and visibility they deserve and will be relegated as secondary priorities in a large instrument focused on forging partnerships with neighbouring and other countries to tackle EU migration, security and economic challenges. Development NGOs call on the European Parliament and the Member States, in the further elaboration of the future EU budget, to make a clear distinction between long-term development aid objectives from short-term foreign policy and prioritise the needs of the partner countries over EU interests. Our reaction The legal texts What is the MFF ?