Open Letter – Uphold EU Global Leadership: Reject the Merger of External Financing Instruments

The EU is currently facing a number of social, political and economic issues. Despite being one of the major contributors to international cooperation funding, recent developments in the context of the upcoming MFF negotiations may cause gaps in the EU’s commitment to transparency.

Specifically, the recent proposal of a merger external action instrument risks compromising the efficiency and credibility of EU humanitarian and sustainability priorities, and we call for a more considerate funding approach, focused on advancing global engagement, human rights and climate action.

This open letter, that CONCORD co-signed on 04 February 2025, urges the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to champion a well-resourced budget for development and climate action, protecting the credibility of the EU as a reliable global partner.