In view of the energy crisis, financial resources to relieve the burden on its own citizens are a priority for the federal government. That is why funds for international cooperation are now to be cut. Foreign Minister Baerbock responded with sharp criticism.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has warned against neglecting the people of Ukraine and other parts of the world in the face of planned cuts in peacekeeping or humanitarian aid funds. In one of the greatest foreign policy crises, cuts should not be made in external areas and in economic cooperation, said the Green politician in the first debate on the next budget of the Federal Foreign Office in the Bundestag in Berlin. Rather, one must constructively consider how one can set clear priorities in these times “in humanitarian aid, but also in foreign cultural and educational policy”.
In view of the debate about support for citizens because of the high energy prices, Baerbock warned against playing off the situation in Germany against helping people in Ukraine or Africa. Solidarity with those fleeing Ukraine is “our common strength”. The minister added: “Let’s not make it so easy for the Russian regime to attack our greatest strength in these moments. And that is our cohesion.”
Baerbock criticized that it was cynical to play off people who were worried in Germany about how they could pay their electricity or gas bills against people in Africa who didn’t know how to look after their children in the next few days. In addition, gas bills should not be played “against Ukrainian mothers and children, who every day hope for nothing more than to finally hug their husbands again.” It is important that it is made clear in the budget: “We are now even more supportive where our European peace order is being attacked (…) internationally those who need the most support.”
The draft budget for the Federal Foreign Office provides for expenditure of 6.4 billion euros for 2023 after 7.11 billion in the current year. Baerbock is said to be able to spend 3.43 billion euros on securing peace and stability, with 4.07 billion euros available for this this year. EUR 822.2 million of this relates to payments to the United Nations and in the international arena (2022: EUR 969.67 million). Cuts are also planned for humanitarian aid and crisis prevention, the approach is to shrink from three billion euros to 2.52 billion euros. The budget provides EUR 147.62 million for bilateral cooperation and maintaining foreign relations (2022: EUR 164.96 million).
