Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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52.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department is aware of any plans by the EU to reduce the overseas aid budget; if he will outline any engagement his Department has had with the EU on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32755/24]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The EU and its Member States are the largest global provider of development aid, accounting for 42% of global Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2022 and 2023.

On 1 February 2024, the European Council discussed the mid-term revision of the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the years 2021-2027. It agreed priority reallocations amounting to €7.6 billion to maintain migration cooperation with third countries and to support the Western Balkans, Southern neighbourhood and Africa, including partnerships and funding for migration routes.

As a result, it has been necessary to reallocate resources among the instruments for external action under Heading 6 of the MFF, which focuses on Europe and the World. Some €2 billion from the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI – Global Europe) and approximately €600 million from the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) will now be reallocated to support new priorities, including migration management in the EU's southern neighbourhood.

The European Commission has proposed that all geographical and some thematic funding allocations be reduced by some 7.5% on a pro-rata basis across all eligible areas in the period 2025 to 2027. This is now the subject of discussions within the process to agree the EU budget for 2025. It is not yet clear how these pro-rata geographic reductions will affect specific country allocations. This will be determined within the Mid-Term Review of programming of NDICI-Global Europe, which is expected be finalised early in the autumn.

Ireland believes that resources should be directed to where need is greatest and that efforts to reach those furthest behind should remain central. Least Developed Countries and those furthest behind should be prioritised and specific country allocations should focus on the poorest and most vulnerable. We have also highlighted the importance of poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth in the management of irregular migration.

I have engaged with this process in the Foreign Affairs Council and during the visit to Ireland by the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, on 1 July. Officials have engaged at senior levels with the European Commission, the Council and the European External Action Service in recent months, and continue to advocate for Ireland’s position and to work with like-minded member states at working party level.

We believe our shared approach to international cooperation and development should support local populations, meet humanitarian need and contribute to the progress on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. These policy perspectives will continue to guide us in our discussions with EU partners and the EU institutions in the coming months.