Sir, – When European Union ministers responsible for development meet in Dublin on October 8th and 9th, Ireland has an opportunity to send a clear message: slashing humanitarian assistance has immediate and dangerous consequences.
Aid must remain focused on people and communities facing poverty, crisis and exclusion – and development co-operation should not be sacrificed or misdirected to serve EU interests.
Reports that cuts of up to 40 per cent to the EU’s Global Europe instrument are being considered should ring alarm bells. The negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework will determine not only how much money is available for development assistance, but also what that money will be used for.
Such cuts could wipe out much of the recent increase in resources available to tackle poverty, conflict, humanitarian emergencies and climate shocks, leaving little capacity to respond to future crises.
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We do not need to speculate about the consequences of drastic aid reductions. The fallout from recent USAID cuts has been devastating.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the loss of support for clean water services contributed to a surge in cholera deaths. HIV treatment programmes have been disrupted, and clinics have closed in Malawi. Life-saving health services have been suspended in Uganda and Mozambique. Demining work has been halted in countries from Afghanistan to Ukraine. Behind every budget cut are real people whose lives will be affected.
At a time of escalating conflicts, climate disasters, shrinking civic space and rising debt burdens, development assistance remains one of the most important tools for building global stability and creating opportunities for those who need it most.
Cutting aid will not make the challenges disappear. It will make them worse and more expensive to address later. Every euro invested in disaster prevention can save many times that amount in recovery costs. And every investment in stability and development reduces the risk of future conflict.
Europe faces difficult budget choices, but there are other ways to raise the necessary resources while supporting Europe’s climate ambitions and efforts to reduce inequality. Fair taxation of extreme wealth and high-emitting sectors such as fossil fuels and aviation could generate significant revenue while supporting Europe’s climate ambitions.
Equally important is ensuring that aid remains focused on its core purpose: reducing poverty and supporting sustainable development for those battling crises outside of their control.
Development budgets should not be cut to make room for increased defence spending. Nor should development assistance be repurposed primarily to control migration, secure access to critical raw materials or create commercial opportunities for European companies.
Aid that serves geopolitical interests rather than community needs is less effective and risks undermining achievable objectives.
Instead, the EU should invest in humanitarian action, gender justice, local civil society and community-led development.
Communities most affected by poverty, conflict and the climate crisis should have a meaningful role in deciding how aid is designed and delivered.
Ireland has rightly earned international respect for its commitment to development co-operation. As holder of the presidency of the Council of the EU, it should use this moment to champion an ambitious Global Europe budget and ensure Europe’s aid remains focused on those who need it most.
Development aid is an investment in people and our shared future. – Yours, etc,
JIM CLARKEN,
Chief executive of Oxfam Ireland,
Dublin.
