Oxfam welcomes European Parliament vote on EU aid budget, but cautions on future steps

Publié: 7th juin 2021


The European Parliament has voted on its EU budget for aid and foreign policy (NDICI). In response to today’s vote, Evelien van Roemburg, Oxfam EU Head of Office said:  

“This new financial instrument stands a real chance at combatting poverty and inequality which has leapt during the pandemic. The EU must secure this chance by channeling the money into the right projects: tackling the widening inequality gap, promoting human rights and democracy, and helping partner countries to scale up their national social security systems. Rich countries have a responsibility to support those being pushed into poverty and suffering from crushing inequalities. Whether the EU achieves these goals, remains to be seen. The proof will be in the pudding.” 
 

Notes aux rédactions

Today, the European Parliament voted through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). This is the EU’s budget for development and foreign policy. This is part of the MFF, the EU’s budget for 2021 – 2027, which sets out the EU’s priorities for external action, including development cooperation. EU governments have proposed 79.5 billion euro for the budget.  

A new International Labour Organisation (ILO) study found an additional 108 million workers worldwide are now categorised as poor or extremely poor (meaning they and their families live on less than $ 3.20 per person per day) in comparison to 2019. 
 

Contact

Jade Tenwick in Brussels, Belgium | +32 473 56 22 60 | jade.tenwick@oxfam.org  

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