HRDN Funding Working Group (WG)’s members welcome the vote by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Committee on Development (DEVE) on the Global Europe Instrument (GEI) for the EU’s next budget, the MFF 2028–2034.
First and foremost, this vote does not simply reject proposals to cut the EU’s external action. It calls for a substantial increase of the Global Europe Instrument to €225 billion, a much-needed and forward-looking investment in the EU’s global engagement. Equally encouraging is the strengthened recognition of human rights, democracy and civil society as core priorities of the Instrument.
We particularly welcome the stronger integration of human rights and democracy throughout the text, including the introduction of mandatory cross-cutting objectives on (a) human rights and democracy, (b) civil society organisations, and (c) peace and conflict prevention across all geographic pillars, backed by a dedicated 30% spending target to help secure these priorities.
The WG calls on the European Parliament to uphold this ambition and carry the report forward into its final position at the plenary vote on 11 November.
While we warmly welcome the report and the important progress it represents, one key element remains absent: explicit ring-fenced and predictable funding for human rights, democracy and civil society. As negotiations move into the trilogue phase, we urge all institutions to address this gap and ensure i the next EU budget guarantee ring-fenced, predictable funding for human rights, democracy and civil society.
