EU Parliament Rejects Foreign Aid Cuts, Demands €25 Billion Boost

The proposal originated from the Irish government, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency. Officials had suggested trimming €38 billion from the ‘Global Europe’ heading as part of a broader €141 billion reduction across the multi-annual financial framework. Had the cuts proceeded as planned, the budget for international development would have faced a significant contraction.

Instead, the committee’s counter-proposal mandates a minimum budget of €25 billion specifically for humanitarian assistance. The plan also carves out dedicated lines for a Gaza reconstruction fund and financial support for candidate countries. This move pushes the total allocation well beyond the European Commission’s original €200 billion target for the sector. This result sets the stage for high-stakes negotiations between the Parliament and EU ministers as they attempt to reconcile their conflicting visions for the union’s external spending priorities.