Development

EU must not neglect development aid over defence, Commissioner Urpilainen warns

12-06-2024

The EU's increased defence spending priorities must not come at the expense of development aid, as this could risk isolating the continent geopolitically, the Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen warned in an interview.

15-05-2024

Europeans overwhelmingly support investment in ‘international solidarity’, survey finds

Est. 4min

The vast majority of Europeans, and especially Italians, are in favour of their country investing in development aid outside of EU borders, according to a survey published by the French Development Agency (AFD) on Tuesday (14 May).

Global Europe 06-02-2024

One year on, Turkish quake survivors face uncertainty as government struggles with reconstruction

Est. 9min

Turkey's government is scrambling to prove it has fulfilled promises to re-home victims of a devastating earthquake from February 2023. But a year on, survivors are still in temporary housing, facing the prospect of having to buy their potential new homes.

18-12-2023

Germany vies for influence in Asia with ‘feminist’ development policy

Est. 4min

As Germany released a new regional development strategy in Asia, emphasising sustainability and gender equity, its effectiveness in channelling Berlin’s foreign policy ambitions remains dubious, an expert told Euractiv.

08-12-2023

EU should re-write aid rules to fund local actors, says aid expert

Est. 3min

The EU should re-write its rules on aid that currently prevent it from providing funds to organisations that are not based in the EU, leading aid charity Caritas has urged. 

22-11-2023

EU says no Palestinian aid going to Hamas, programmes to continue

Est. 4min

The European Commission on Tuesday (21 November) said its review, ordered after the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, found no misuse of EU development funds for Palestine so far and development aid could continue, but called for stricter controls going forward.

20-11-2023

We can’t leave anyone behind

Est. 6min

It is urgent to assist the 360 million people worldwide who need humanitarian assistance, write Carlos Zorrinho and Mónica Silvana González. MEP Carlos Zorrinho is EP Standing Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid (S&D, PT). MEP Mónica Silvana González is former EP Standing …

EU-Africa 16-11-2023

Holdouts cast shadow over new EU pact with African, Caribbean and Pacific states

Est. 3min

The EU this week finally sealed an agreement on a new treaty that will govern relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) community, but the refusal of 35 of the 79 ACP states to sign it has cast a shadow over its merits.

25-10-2023

EU Commission looks to future with the launch of its Global Gateway forum

Est. 4min

The European Commission launched the worldwide forum of its flagship foreign infrastructure investment scheme, the Global Gateway, on Wednesday (25 October) - just one week after China held its own forum to celebrate the successes of its own scheme.

24-10-2023

To outperform China, EU’s Global Gateway should underscore its democratic ambitions

Est. 6min

This week’s Global Gateway Forum offers the EU a chance to show global leaders how a focus on democratic values and transparency distinguishes it from China’s Belt and Road. To succeed, this focus should be established from the start, write Sam van der Staak and Paul Maassen.

20-10-2023

EU leads pushback as Africa formally launches plan for UN tax convention

Est. 3min

EU finance ministers are leading the pushback against the campaign for a UN tax convention to make rules to tackle corporate tax evasion and illicit financial flows. 

08-10-2023

EU Global Gateway chief calls for more development aid amid race for investment

Est. 5min

NAIROBI, KENYA - Europeans must keep investing in development aid and infrastructure projects as competition from China, Russia and the United States mounts, International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen told Euractiv in an interview.

08-10-2023

Kenya, a symbol for the EU Global Gateway’s impact and struggles

Est. 6min

MOMBASA, KENYA - The East African harbour is a gateway for the continent toward the rest of the world. Its strategic location attracts many investors. The European Union is one of them, next to Beijing.

04-09-2023

Some inconvenient truth about international development policy

Est. 7min

When complaining about the West losing global influence, no one dares to talk about another big elephant in the room of international relations - development cooperation, writes Peter Hefele.

EU-Africa 29-08-2023

EU to discuss Niger coup fallout, reassess Sahel region approach

Est. 8min

After the recent Niger coup, EU foreign and defence ministers this week are expected to discuss a strategy to deal with the situation and reassess the bloc's approach to the Sahel region, according to an internal memo seen by EURACTIV.

Economy 23-06-2023

New Global Financial Pact takes small steps towards climate justice

Est. 6min

Heads of states and civil society representatives agreed a joint way forward to “fundamentally reform” the international development framework on Friday (23 June) in Paris, but failed to make hoped-for headways on international taxation.

Economy 22-06-2023

Global Financing Pact: Macron’s diplomatic tour de force

Est. 5min

The Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris on Thursday and Friday (22-23 June) could strengthen France's "green diplomacy" and position President Emmanuel Macron as a key player when it comes to financing international development aid.

Economy 19-06-2023

Summit for a New Global Financing Pact: What it is and why it matters

Est. 7min

Paris will be hosting a one-of-a-kind ‘Summit for a New Global Financing Pact’ on 22-23 June, in an effort to secure financing for Global South development aid and climate transition, and enshrine the need for a review of multilateral institutions.

Climate change 19-06-2023

Paris summit to push for global pact on climate and debt reform

Est. 5min

World leaders will gather in Paris this week with ambitions to reimagine global financing for a new era shaped by climate change, as a cascade of crises swamps debt-burdened countries.

Global Europe 24-05-2023

Chinese hackers attacked Kenyan government as debt strains grew

Est. 7min

Chinese hackers targeted Kenya's government in a widespread, years-long series of digital intrusions against key ministries and state institutions, according to three sources, cybersecurity research reports and Reuters' own analysis of technical data related to the hackings.

12-05-2023

The Brief — Whose aid is it anyway?

Est. 6min

There was surprise earlier this year when the Swedish Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard – whose government holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council - told reporters that trade access and aid could be denied to countries who refuse to cooperate on migrant returns.

05-05-2023

Scholz backs African Union bid for G20 seat on second trip to continent

Est. 3min

Germany supports the African Union's bid to get a seat at the G20 group of large economies, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on 4 May, as the West seeks to woo the continent away from growing rivals like China.

02-05-2023

Uganda parliament passes harsh anti-LGBTQ bill

Est. 2min

Uganda's parliament on Tuesday (2 May) passed one of the world's strictest anti-LGBTQ bills mostly unchanged, including long jail terms and the death penalty, after President Yoweri Museveni requested some parts of the original legislation be toned down.

13-04-2023

Rules on refugee costs make EU states main recipients of development aid

Est. 3min

EU countries have become the main recipients of their own development aid, statistics published on Wednesday (12 April) have revealed. 

03-04-2023

Global Gateway as new approach, not simple funding pot

Est. 6min

For the EU's Global Gateway to work, it requires a radical shift in the way the EU, member states and private sector actors work together outside the bloc, writes Chloe Teevan.