Setting the highest standards for Global Europe implementation

Global Europe – the new EU development cooperation instrument¹ – will be implemented in a context of 80 million people globally facing long-term forced displacement. Of that number, 85% are hosted in low and middle income countries, the majority in their own country or in a neighbouring country. In the near future, this number is expected to increase due to climate crises, conflicts and food insecurity.

CONCORD was against setting a migration spending target in Global Europe, not because migration is not an important theme in development, but because of the way it has been framed by the EU – aimed at curbing migration rather than reducing inequalities and poverty and promoting human rights.

A positive way forward would respond to the real needs that exist in communities in relation to migration and respect the highest standards set by international, humanitarian and human rights law.

This policy paper aims to critically assess some key risks that Global Europe approach to migration entails – with evidence – while suggesting which types of projects and programmes as well as unexplored areas the EU should focus on for the migration actions under Global Europe. Lastly, this paper gathers four innovative and forward-looking recommendations to the EU about the implementation of the share of the Global Europe budget earmarked for migration-related activities.