Brussels – Amid signals that the negotiations for the Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) may be pushed into 2021, ONE is reminding all parties of the serious costs delays could inflict on the EU’s partners. Postponing the approval of the EU’s long term budget’s external instrument would dangerously risk the delivery of essential aid funds, in the midst of a global pandemic.

Emily Wigens, EU Director of the ONE Campaign, said: “At this pace, the external action instrument will not be approved until next year. A six-month delay would cost approximately €4.7 billion to European development cooperation. This could buy 1.8 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, enough to vaccinate almost the entire adult population of Africa.

We are calling on Members of the European Parliament, the Commission, and the Council to push for a swift agreement on the NDICI before the end of the year. We cannot afford to jeopardise life-saving programmes at a time when EU support is more important than ever. We need to act now.”