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OPINION (2026/0196(BUD))

On the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2027

DEVE-AD-790182

Committee on Development · Rapporteur: Charles Goerens

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The Committee on Development gives its opinion on the 2027 EU budget, asking the Committee on Budgets to include its points in the resolution. It warns that development and humanitarian aid are falling while needs grow, and asks for more funding and better spending. It calls for a considerable reinforcement of humanitarian aid above the proposed EUR 1866 million baseline, and for the Emergency Aid reserve of EUR 607 million to serve its original purpose. It asks the Commission to close the gap in Sub-Saharan Africa funding and respect the NDICI-GE minimum of at least EUR 29.18 billion by 2027, and to meet the 30% climate and 10% biodiversity spending targets. It wants more support for nutrition, education, healthcare and Palestinian refugees, and better monitoring of how EU aid is distributed and what it achieves in partner countries.

Committee position. The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Budgets to incorporate its points into the motion for a resolution, asking for reinforced humanitarian and development funding, respect for NDICI-GE geographic and spending targets, and better monitoring of EU aid.

Key points

  1. Notes the Heading 6 margin for the 2027 draft budget is EUR 100 million, leaving limited room for new challenges, and stresses maximising the effectiveness of EU external spending.
  2. Stresses that a considerable reinforcement of humanitarian aid is needed and that the proposed baseline of EUR 1866 million for 2027 is not commensurate with expected needs.
  3. Reminds that the Emergency Aid reserve, EUR 607 million for 2027 in current prices, must fulfil its original purpose, and calls for prioritising food, shelter and essential services.
  4. Expresses concern at the Commission proposal to use EFSD reflows entirely for Ukraine Support Loan debt servicing instead of across all eligible regions under NDICI-GE.
  5. Calls on the Commission to ensure the 2027 budget closes the gap in Sub-Saharan Africa funding and respects the NDICI-GE Article 6.2(a) minimum of at least EUR 29.18 billion by 2027.
  6. Highlights the need to reinforce support for nutrition, education and healthcare, including disease control, prevention and surveillance, and notes women and children are disproportionately affected by aid cuts.
  7. Calls for additional funding under the Southern Neighbourhood heading for essential human development services, such as health and primary education for Palestinian refugees, given the Middle East crisis.
  8. Notes climate-related expenditure is expected to remain below the 30% NDICI-GE target and calls on the Commission to fully achieve the 30% climate and 10% biodiversity spending targets by the end of the current MFF.
  9. Notes that NDICI-GE spending on migration and forced displacement management has exceeded the regulation's indicative 10% target, reducing funding available for other sectors.
  10. Expresses grave concern at aid reductions by the world's largest donors, including several EU member states, which provided nearly 10% less ODA in 2025 than in 2024, moving away from the 0.7% of GNI target.
  11. Calls on the Commission for improved evidence-based monitoring, assessment and reporting of the distribution and impact of interventions, including on job creation, education, living standards and SMEs.
  12. Calls for reinforced vocational education and training, continued EU aid for quality education in developing countries, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, and targeted support for SMEs' access to finance, markets and training.

Who is affected

  • Least Developed Countries and sub-Saharan Africa, facing reductions in net bilateral ODA of between 13% and 25% and 16% and 28% respectively in 2025.
  • Palestinian refugees, for whom additional funding is sought for health and primary education under the Southern Neighbourhood heading.
  • The Commission, asked to close the Sub-Saharan Africa funding gap, meet climate and biodiversity targets, and improve monitoring and reporting.
  • EU member states and other donors, urged to broaden the donor base and uphold humanitarian principles amid a widening funding gap.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 100 million — the margin for Heading 6 for the 2027 draft budget.
  • EUR 1866 million — the proposed baseline for humanitarian aid for 2027.
  • EUR 607 million — the Emergency Aid reserve for 2027 in current prices.
  • At least EUR 29.18 billion by 2027 — the NDICI-GE Article 6.2(a) minimum allocation for Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • 30% — the NDICI-GE climate spending target; 10% — the biodiversity spending target.
  • 10% — the NDICI-GE indicative target for spending on migration and forced displacement management.
  • Nearly 10% less ODA in 2025 than in 2024; 0.7% of GNI — the collective ODA target.
  • USD 202 million to protect 8.8 million people in 22 high-risk countries — the FAO–WFP Anticipatory Action Appeal.