Global Europe – Key Updates

Global Europe

Global Europe (or currently known as NDICI – Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument) is the EU’s main funding tool for external action. With a current budget of €79.5 billion (2021-2027), it plays a central role in tackling poverty, promoting sustainable development, and promoting peace and prosperity worldwide.

In the context of ongoing discussions on the next long-term EU budget (2028-2034), important changes are proposed in the new Global Europe instrument. For civil society organisations (CSOs), these changes could significantly affect funding priorities, access, and accountability mechanisms.

What is changing?

A larger, more flexible budget

In its proposal for a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the European Commission proposed €200 bn for Global Europe – representing an increase of 75% compared to the current funding period and corresponding to about 10% of the total EU budget. A further €100 bn is earmarked for Ukraine, to be implemented through Global Europe. The Commission also proposed to set up a dedicated reserve capacity of €14.8 bn (up from €9.5 bn under the current budget) to help the EU respond to emerging crises and unforeseen needs. However, CSOs have expressed concerns about some aspects of the design and framing of the new Global Europe instrument.

Removal of spending targets

One of the most significant proposed changes to Global Europe is the removal of spending targets, including targets for climate, least developed countries and gender, which are in place under the current instrument. These fixed targets would be replaced by a mainstreaming approach, with priorities integrated across all spending. The only remaining quantitative target is that 90% of all funding must qualify as Official Development Assistance (ODA), down from 93% in the current MFF instrument. However, the 90% target could be reduced further, as under the current proposal, the Commission would be allowed to change this by a delegated act. The Commission’s proposal also foresees the removal of minimum spending amounts for specific regions, instead providing indicative financial allocations.

These proposed changes have prompted criticism that the Commission is prioritising flexibility over clear targets. Some organisations have warned that key areas like human development, climate and gender equality could be deprioritised as a result, and resources diluted across multiple objectives. Many organisations have warned that a lack of thematic earmarking risks reducing transparency and oversight by the European Parliament in the trade-off for more flexibility. As such, there has been pushback from some Member States and MEPs to safeguard regional or thematic interests, predictability and oversight.

Another key concern is the potential for a new, hidden conditionality tied to Global Europe, namely that non-cooperation by third countries on migration control, with a focus on border control, returns and readmissions, could lead to the freezing of external funds in the 2028–2034 MFF. The only safeguard laid out in the proposal is that “under no circumstances shall the suspension affect humanitarian assistance.”

European Parliament demands

In a draft budgetary assessment presented in April 2026, the Committee on Budgets in the European Parliament (BUDG) called for an increase in the proposed budget for Global Europe to “enable the EU to live up to its role as a global actor”. In this, BUDG criticised the limited budgetary breakdown and warns that simplification and flexibility must not come at the expense of transparency and oversight by the budgetary authority. BUDG therefore recommends:

1. setting guaranteed minimum amounts for essential policy objectives such as humanitarian aid, development, global health and pre-accession;
2. introducing thematic pillars for human rights and democracy, civil society organisations, stability and peace;
3. including a spending target for least developed countries (LDCs).

On 8 April, the Global Europe proposal was discussed at a BUDG committee meeting, with opinions presented by the parliamentary committees BUDG, SEDE, INTA, CONT, PECH, LIBE and FEMM. The deadline for tabling amendments was 15 April 2026, with the draft interim report on the proposal for the next MFF being presented in BUDG that day. The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Development (DEVE), which are leading on Global Europe, presented their draft report on 17 April. Among other things, MEPs called for a top-up of €24.06bn for the Global Europe programme, which would bring the total budget allocation to €225bn in current prices.

Beyond the European Parliament, Member States particularly expressed opposition to the Commission’s proposed option of changing the 90% ODA target through a delegated act. Moreover, CONCORD, the European confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation, has called for more explicit reference to the Sustainable Development Goals in the new Global Europe instrument, and for the reinstatement of minimum spending targets on least developed countries, gender equality, human development, and climate action. CONCORD also rejects the introduction of conditionalities tied to EU migration management priorities.

Important dates

As Global Europe has to compete with other EU-domestic priorities in the ongoing MFF negotiations, the instrument could be at risk of being cut, meaning the continued engagement of civil society organisations in ongoing negotiations is crucial.

Some key dates to watch are as follows:

• 28 April: The European Parliament’s MFF interim report (encompassing Global Europe and other funds) was adopted at a plenary vote in Strasbourg. Parliament can now begin negotiations with the Council.
• 5 May 2026: The EU parliamentary committees on Development (DEVE) and Foreign Affairs (AFET) met to discuss their joint draft legislative report on Global Europe.
• 18-19 June 2026 (expected): European Council discussion on the MFF.
• 6-7 May, 3-4 June and 15 July 2026: Additional plenary BUDG meetings throughout 2026 to support Parliament’s preparatory work and negotiations on MFF files.
• September/October 2026: DEVE and AFET’s joint report will be voted on during the first plenary session of October 2026. This will become Parliament’s mandate to negotiate the final text of the Global Europe Regulation with the Council and the Commission.

Key EU actors to engage with on Global Europe

Sources:
https://newunionpost.eu/2026/02/04/global-europe-eu-mff-negotiations-mep/ & https://oeil.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2025/0571R(APP)

In addition, four other parliamentary committees have decided to deliver opinions on the Global Europe report, for which they have named the following rapporteurs:

1. Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT): Marit Maij (S&D)
2. Committee on Fisheries (PECH): Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez (Renew)
3. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE): Estrella Galán (The Left)
4. Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM): Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew).

The opinions of the individual parliamentary committees are available here.

In the EESC, Mateusz Szymański is Rapporteur for the Global Europe proposal, and Luca Jahier is Co-Rapporteur.

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