Brussels – European Council President Charles Michel released the updated Multiannual Financial Framework negotiating proposal, also referred to as the negotiating box. 

This proposal includes a reduction of €-4.7 billion for the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument in the Multiannual Financial Framework according to the European Council’s proposal. Heads of State and Government will meet for a special European Council on 17-18 July to discuss this and reach an agreement.

Emily Wigens, EU Director at The ONE Campaign, said: 

“President Michel’s proposal is incoherent with the Council’s stated priorities. Barely one week after adopting conclusions on Africa underlining that a prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Africa is essential for Europe, he suggests cutting funds to sub-Saharan Africa where up to 50 million people risk being pushed into extreme poverty this year.

Europe’s partners shouldn’t pay the price of political trade-offs in budget negotiations. It’s clear that Europe will only fully recover from the crisis when our partners recover. Up to 30 million African jobs are at risk, and COVID19 is accelerating crises in education and food security. The Commission’s revised proposals for external action were the minimum financing required to turn political commitments into concrete action.

Where do European Heads of State and Government want to see Europe in the next 15 to 20 years? If the answer is a stronger Europe that assumes its responsibility as a global leader to tackle the largest inequalities and the greatest challenges of our generation, then they must reject Michel’s proposals on external action.”

ENDS