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The recovery fund and long-term EU budget agreed today do not match the urgency of our current situation and the challenges ahead, said Oxfam.

Today, the European Commission presented a coronavirus crisis recovery package for the EU.

Oxfam welcomes the EU increasing its aid for education, public health and gender equality in developing countries in its budget for 2019. However, it still falls short of allocating 20 percent of the aid budget to these vital areas.

Following a vote in the European Parliament on the EU budget for 2019, Oxfam is concerned that the EU continues to prioritize migration management at the expense of humanitarian action and sustainable development.

Today, EU member states have proposed a spending increase of 10 percent in 2019 for the EU’s external policies compared to this year’s budget. However, governments are focusing on the wrong issues, Oxfam, Save the Children, DSW and IPPF EN say. The organizations argue a strong focus on human development is needed to counter increasing inequalities and make sure no one is left behind.

The European Commission has published details of its planned foreign affairs spending for 2021-2027. While there are some positive points which we welcome, there is a risk that aid money can now be used for inward-looking policies on migration and security, rather than long-term sustainable development.

Reacting to the conclusion of the European Council on the EU long-term budget, which is freezing EU anti-poverty aid at near current levels, Natalia Alonso, Head of Oxfam's EU Office, said:

Reacting to the draft conclusions of the European Council on the EU long-term budget, which are freezing EU development and humanitarian aid at current levels, Natalia Alonso, Head of Oxfam's EU Of