Germany's Development Minister, Riem Al-Abdi Radwan, addressed the budget of his ministry in light of global crises during his speech in the lower house of parliament. He referred to floods in Nepal, heatwaves, wildfires, drying rivers, and crop failures due to drought.
Budget Cuts for the Fifth Consecutive Year
Radwan noted that "millions of people are facing hunger," emphasizing that the climate crisis is a global threat and no country can tackle it alone. He began the discussion on the federal government's proposed budget for 2027 with a tough assessment, indicating that the budget will decrease for the fifth consecutive year, dropping from over 10 billion euros to less than 9.5 billion euros. This comes after the ministry's budget was nearly 14 billion euros in 2022, meaning it has decreased by about one-third over the past five years.
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Concerns About Reductions in International Aid
Relief organizations have expressed concerns about this policy change. Michael Herbst, a member of VENRO, an organization representing around 150 development and humanitarian NGOs, stated, "Repeated cuts in funding for international cooperation exacerbate the situation." He criticized the fixed budget for humanitarian aid managed by the German Foreign Office, noting that while this budget was over 3 billion euros in 2022, it has remained fixed at one billion euros since 2025.
Pressure on Parliament to Change Approach
Herbst also urged parliament members to exempt development cooperation and humanitarian aid from Germany's "debt brake." Jamila Schaffer, a representative of the Green Party, stated that investing in climate action and development cooperation is not only a charitable act but also in Germany's interest. In contrast, Nicholas Ziplius, a representative of the Christian Democratic Party, argued that each ministry should contribute to strengthening the federal budget.
John Sebastian Friedrich-Rast, president of the relief organization Action Against Hunger, deemed these cuts dangerous and shortsighted, stressing that this decision could endanger the lives of millions. He also warned that current spending cuts merely postpone future costs, ultimately leading to higher expenses.
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