Global Europe (Multiannual Financial Framework proposal)

Key points

The EESC:

• welcomes the Commission proposal to increase expenditure on the EU’s external policies under the upcoming multiannual financial framework (MFF), with a Global Europe instrument including a Reserve for Ukraine, and considers this increase essential for the EU to affirm its role as a global player and values, as well as to build strategic autonomy;
• considers that the EU should play a leading role in development and humanitarian efforts and in revitalising the UN system, with the Global Gateway becoming its main instrument;
• points out that the Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities Advisory Board for the Global Gateway has remained disconnected from decision-making and created fragmented dialogue. The EESC calls to ensure meaningful participation, including of the EESC and the CoR;
• emphasises the need to build consistency between foreign policy, development, trade  and the European Competitiveness Fund to achieve sustainable development and economic resilience;
• despite the positive assessment of the proposed flexibility in external action, expects full transparency and accountability in the spending of funds;
• calls to extend the Commission’s Inequality Marker to Global Gateway projects;  
• expects existing bodies, such as civil society platforms, to be engaged more extensively in maintaining relations with organisations in partner countries;  
• supports all efforts to reinforce prosperity and security in our neighbourhood and thus within the EU, and supports further enlargement of the Union;
• stresses the need for predictable and stable funding for civil society organisations, notably to strengthen democracy, civic space and gender equality;
• expects that the objectives on economic cooperation and entrepreneurship will be accompanied by ambitious social, human rights and environmental safeguards;
• opposes the approach of suspending payments in the context of migration policy, emphasising the need for positive incentives to achieve the stated goals.