In July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the next EU long-term budget – the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will run between 2028-2034. The Global Europe Instrument, with a suggested budget of EUR 200 billion, would be the EU’s main tool to fund its external action, including international cooperation and humanitarian action, as well as its enlargement and neighbourhood policies.
The Global Europe Instrument will be critical to ensuring the EU has the adequate level of ambition and funding to address pressing global challenges, working with partner countries to eradicate poverty and achieving global sustainable development.
In this factsheet we look at why gender equality and sexual and reproducitve health and rights (SRHR) are important for the EU’s external action and we share our recommendation to safeguard them in the Global Europe Instrument.
The EU should build on its achievements of the past years regarding SRHR and continue championing access to SRHR for everyone. The NDICI, guided by strong policy frameworks such as the European Consensus on Development and the Gender Action Plan III, has been instrumental for women, girls, youth and marginalised communities to access their SRHR in the past years. Ambitious funding for SRHR at national, regional and global levels has saved lives and has contributed to stable and more prosperous societies. EU decision-makers have the opportunity to make sure that the Global Europe Instrument continues supporting this objective.
Illustration: Mark Wang for Fine Acts
