EU Advances Foreign Policy: Slovakia Lifts Sanctions Veto, Proposes €200 Billion Global Europe Fund
The European Union has made significant strides in its foreign policy, with Slovakia lifting its veto on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, the EU is proposing a substantial increase in external spending, conditional on cooperation with its migration policy.
The EU's draft budget for 2028-2034 includes a €200 billion 'Global Europe' fund, which combines humanitarian aid and development assistance. This proposal has been welcomed despite concerns about the integration of migration controls into development assistance. The broader budget and sanctions debates reflect growing pressure within the EU to assert geopolitical influence more forcefully while managing internal divisions over migration and energy dependence.
Access to this funding could be reduced or withdrawn if recipient countries do not cooperate with EU migration goals, such as the readmission of their own nationals refused asylum or deported from the EU. Critics argue that linking aid to migration enforcement politicises development assistance and undermines the EU's reputation as a consistent and principled donor. The Commission's proposal will need approval from both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, with negotiations expected to be contentious.
The lifting of Slovakia's veto on EU sanctions has been welcomed in Brussels, despite domestic criticism of Prime Minister Robert Fico's handling of the issue. The EU's new budget and sanctions reflect its determination to assert geopolitical influence and manage migration, despite internal divisions and criticism from some quarters.
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