EU Development Ministers Push for Bold Financing Reforms as Global Pressures Mount

In her first time at the helm of the Foreign Affairs Council (Development), High Representative Kaja Kallas wasted no time setting a bold tone. At Monday’s meeting, EU development Ministers gathered in Brussels to align their positions ahead of the high-stakes 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), which will take place in Seville from 30 June to 3 July.

With global development financing under severe pressure—thanks in part to rising geopolitical tensions and recent U.S. cuts to external aid—the EU is positioning itself as the World’s steady hand. Ministers called for a sweeping reform of the international financial system and renewed their commitment to fully delivering on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Development financing is no longer just a technical issue—it’s a geopolitical imperative, as Kallas told her colleagues. To “ensure no one is left behind in the pursuit of global prosperity.”

Africa, Ukraine, and Beyond: The EU Broadens Its Development Focus

The Council also turned its attention to EU-Africa relations following last week’s ministerial meeting with the African Union. Ministers stressed the need for tangible outcomes before the upcoming 7th AU-EU Summit later this year, including better alignment in multilateral forums and increased visibility for Global Gateway investments across the Continent.

Concrete action and clear communication are key, Ministers agreed, to make sure that African partners—and the world— see that the EU is serious about sustainable partnership.

Ukraine remained a priority, as Ministers reviewed the Ukraine Plan and humanitarian efforts. Kallas noted that April 2025 was among the deadliest months for civilians since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. To date, the EU and its Member States have delivered €4.2 billion in aid, including over 155,000 tonnes of supplies.

At an informal lunch, Ministers also looked ahead to the EU’s external action strategy post-2027. The conversation focused on finding the sweet spot between long-term predictability and the flexibility needed to respond to global shocks—all while keeping EU values and strategic interests at the core.

From Malnutrition to SMEs: Development with a Broader Lens

Wrapping up the day, Ministers were briefed on the outcomes of March’s Nutrition for Growth summit in Paris, and discussed a new proposal to boost the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in delivering the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

With just over a month to go before the Seville conference, Monday’s Council signalled that the EU is stepping up—and it wants the rest of the world to keep pace.