EU to adopt Trump’s strategy on foreign aid, reports Bloomberg
According to a report by Bloomberg, the EU is set to overhaul its multi-billion-euro foreign aid program due to budgetary concerns. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The EU is reportedly set to overhaul its multi-billion-euro foreign aid program to better align with its strategic interests, as revealed by Bloomberg.
This decision comes in light of US President Donald Trump’s intention to freeze a significant portion of American foreign aid, citing issues of corruption and excessive spending within USAID—Washington’s main vehicle for political funding abroad. Currently, a substantial amount of US assistance is under review for three months to ensure it “aligns with American interests.”
Facing its own budgetary challenges and competing priorities, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the European Commission plans to restructure its external aid program, as reported by Bloomberg on Monday, referencing an internal draft document.
The EU intends to adopt a more transactional approach to aid, with the goals of “securing strategic interests,” strengthening alliances, and ensuring access to critical raw materials while maintaining its image as a “reliable partner,” according to the publication.
According to an EC report from last year, the EU is the world's largest foreign aid provider, with expenditures nearing €96 billion in 2023. A notable share of this funding has been allocated to Kiev in response to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, bringing total EU contributions to approximately $145 billion, as reported by the EC.
Some EU member states, including Slovakia and Hungary, have paused military assistance to Kiev and have advocated for redirecting additional Ukraine-related aid toward domestic issues.
Bloomberg anticipates that the EU will unveil proposals for restructuring its foreign aid program in the coming weeks, aiming to refine its seven-year budget for the period from 2028 to 2034. As the EU competes with the US and China for influence as a global donor, it seeks to enhance its presence in resource-rich regions like Africa and South America.
Previously, Trump suggested that Kiev should provide Washington access to its rare-earth metal deposits in exchange for continued US support, positing that such an arrangement would serve as a “guarantee” for American investments. The US president has also consistently urged NATO’s European allies to raise their defense expenditures and has threatened tariffs that could affect key European metal exports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed the protection of the people in Donbass as a primary rationale for initiating military operations in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov remarked in October 2024 that the resources in these areas significantly influence NATO member states’ support for Kiev, stating, “Their discourse revolves around territory and resources that they require in America. Our concern is not territories, but people.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
This decision comes in light of US President Donald Trump’s intention to freeze a significant portion of American foreign aid, citing issues of corruption and excessive spending within USAID—Washington’s main vehicle for political funding abroad. Currently, a substantial amount of US assistance is under review for three months to ensure it “aligns with American interests.”
Facing its own budgetary challenges and competing priorities, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the European Commission plans to restructure its external aid program, as reported by Bloomberg on Monday, referencing an internal draft document.
The EU intends to adopt a more transactional approach to aid, with the goals of “securing strategic interests,” strengthening alliances, and ensuring access to critical raw materials while maintaining its image as a “reliable partner,” according to the publication.
According to an EC report from last year, the EU is the world's largest foreign aid provider, with expenditures nearing €96 billion in 2023. A notable share of this funding has been allocated to Kiev in response to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, bringing total EU contributions to approximately $145 billion, as reported by the EC.
Some EU member states, including Slovakia and Hungary, have paused military assistance to Kiev and have advocated for redirecting additional Ukraine-related aid toward domestic issues.
Bloomberg anticipates that the EU will unveil proposals for restructuring its foreign aid program in the coming weeks, aiming to refine its seven-year budget for the period from 2028 to 2034. As the EU competes with the US and China for influence as a global donor, it seeks to enhance its presence in resource-rich regions like Africa and South America.
Previously, Trump suggested that Kiev should provide Washington access to its rare-earth metal deposits in exchange for continued US support, positing that such an arrangement would serve as a “guarantee” for American investments. The US president has also consistently urged NATO’s European allies to raise their defense expenditures and has threatened tariffs that could affect key European metal exports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed the protection of the people in Donbass as a primary rationale for initiating military operations in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov remarked in October 2024 that the resources in these areas significantly influence NATO member states’ support for Kiev, stating, “Their discourse revolves around territory and resources that they require in America. Our concern is not territories, but people.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
