Dr. Róisín Hinds:

The multi-annual financial framework, MFF, was mentioned. The big concern for us is the fact that they are collapsing 12 instruments into one broad instrument and foreign policy, home affairs and policy and development objectives are being collapsed into one body. There is also a concern that short-term European political objectives, particularly around migration, security and trade, will take precedence over development objectives. I will follow up on this for the committee. We have particular concerns around tied aid. The budget has a €10 billion cushion for emerging challenges but very little clarity about what that means and what issues will be covered under the cushion. We are worried that an increasing focus on the neighbourhood region will mean more focus on migration control and security over the effectiveness of development, which is the core principle of ODI aid.