Key facts
- EU funding for external and humanitarian aid may be cut by €38 billion.
- The Global Europe budget could be reduced by 17% to €177 billion.
- UN WFP's total funding has fallen 40% in two years.
- Up to 363 million people may face acute food insecurity this year.
- The WFP is cutting food programs in South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Somalia due to funding shortages.
The European Union is considering significant cuts to its external and humanitarian aid funding, a move that could diminish its global influence, according to Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme. European nations are debating the budget for the next seven years, with a proposal from the Irish Presidency suggesting a €38 billion reduction to the Global Europe budget, potentially lowering its funding by 17% to €177 billion.
Skau emphasized that the EU has been a reliable donor, fostering trust and enabling it to shape international processes, including the WFP's strategic priorities. He urged maintaining an ambitious humanitarian aid budget, contrasting it with significantly larger defense spending. The WFP itself has seen its total funding drop by 40% over the last two years, with major donors like the United States, Germany, France, and the UK reducing their contributions.
Simultaneously, global food insecurity is rising, with forecasts predicting up to 363 million people could face acute hunger this year, exacerbated by conflicts, climate events, and trade disruptions. Skau also highlighted a potential link between aid cuts and increased migration to Europe, noting that funding shortfalls are already forcing the WFP to reduce essential programs for vulnerable populations in countries like South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Somalia.