“As the newly elected European Parliament prepares for another term, MEPs face a crucial task: deciding on the European Union’s (EU) aid budget for 2025.
“While numerous topics create division within Europe, data and surveys tell us that Europeans are united on one front: the conviction that the EU has a duty to demonstrate global solidarity through European aid.
“However, national leaders and politicians are increasingly pushing for significant reductions in official development aid and scaling back on humanitarian aid pledges. Despite these pressures, MEPs must remember the clear voice of their constituents when deciding whether to cut or expand Europe’s aid budget this month.
“More than nine out of ten Europeans believe it is vital for the EU to fund humanitarian aid globally. In some EU countries, nearly everyone agrees, with Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia, and Ireland showing 97 per cent approval rates for European aid. Denmark, Latvia, Sweden, and Finland have seen over 10 per cent increases in the number of people who consider European aid very important since they were asked in 2020.
“Such strong consensus should be a gift to policymakers. It’s evident that citizens want to continue seeing the EU utilize taxpayer funds to assist people facing severe crises.
“This consensus reflects a pressing reality: in 2019, when the previous group of MEPs assumed office, 131 million people needed humanitarian aid. Today, that number has risen to 308 million due to conflicts, climate crises, and economic challenges.
“Reducing long-term development funding to places like Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali or Myanmar at this time is not a good way to save money. Providing aid today is more effective than having to address spiralling humanitarian needs tomorrow. In Burkina Faso, for example, NRC has worked with communities that relied on trucks delivering potable water supply for several years before finding a durable solution. Even though water-trucking is essential in some emergency settings to save lives, in the context of protracted crises such as the Central Sahel, investment into solar-powered boreholes is better to allow for sustainable and dignified support to people in need.
“Cutting off a lifeline to millions of people will have a direct and disproportionately large impact, with the consequences being far more costly if these fragile situations spiral into deeper or prolonged crises.
“A policy disconnect is looming. Europeans are committed to providing aid, while European lawmakers are focused on reducing it. MEPs have a rare chance to bridge this divide and represent their citizens by advocating for and approving an increased humanitarian and development aid budget. Reducing aid budgets when millions depend on them, and when Europeans support them, would be reckless policymaking.”
Notes to editors:
- Eurobarometer’s survey from 2024 demonstrated the consistently high level of support for EU humanitarian aid.
- The World Humanitarian Overview in 2019 showed 131 million people in humanitarian need. In 2024, it has increased to 308 million people.
- NRC’s Weathering the Storm report explained the impacts of development funding cuts across several of our country offices including the Sahel, Myanmar and Afghanistan. Cuts in development funding often leave humanitarian programmes to fill the gap – an inefficient and unsustainable use of funds.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no +47 905 62 329
