EU: Don’t walk away from health and education
Dear EU leaders,
As you negotiate the next EU budget, you are making decisions that will define Europe's global role for the next decade. But right now, there is a dangerous flaw in the plan.
Funding for essential health and education is under pressure as the focus shifts toward large-scale infrastructure. But let's be clear: a railway through a region where HIV goes untreated and a third of children are out of school will not generate the trade volumes it was designed for. A digital network in a country where people can't access basic medicines won't build a thriving economy.
Bottom line: A child who grows up without adequate nutrition, healthcare or education does not catch up later. No infrastructure project can fix that.
We are calling for 20% of EU development spending to be dedicated to human development.
Investing in people is common sense:
- Our global insurance policy: Investing in health is a shield against the next pandemic that could wipe trillions off the global economy.
- Our first line of defense: Investing in education is the most effective way to prevent instability.
Don’t walk away from human development. This is about what kind of partner Europe wants to be. Europe's development model has always stood apart because it invests in people, not just projects. That distinction matters to partner countries, and for Europe's credibility.
We urge you to ensure that 1 in every 5 euros of the EU’s development budget is invested in health and education.
Because the real measurement of Europe’s influence will be in the lives we help improve and the opportunities that creates.