Action Aid Ireland calls on EU leaders to scrap proposed budget cuts affecting aid

Action Aid Ireland has publicly criticised Ireland’s EU budget proposal, which seeks €141 billion in cuts to the bloc’s next long-term budget, including a 17% reduction in the external action envelope. The charity highlighted that the Global Europe Instrument would lose €31.5 billion, a cut far exceeding the 8% reduction slated for the overall budget. Karol Balfe, the organisation’s chief executive, warned that such cuts would jeopardise aid to communities facing poverty, conflict and climate devastation, and would disproportionately affect women and girls by eroding essential services.

She called on the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to defend international cooperation and women’s-rights funding. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin responded in Brussels, saying the proposal still leaves the humanitarian budget at €25 billion and is justified by current needs. The charity urges member states to push back during negotiations to preserve development and humanitarian assistance.