As European aid falls, Cyprus boosts its contribution, report finds

World eugazaTop Newswar As European aid falls, Cyprus boosts its contribution, report finds Img 3683 Relevant News Cyprus signs Bahrain shipping deal, eyes bigger role as East Med bridge 17 September 2026 As European aid falls, Cyprus boosts its contribution, report finds 17 September 2026 Storms and hail forecast for Thursday, cooler weekend ahead 17 September 2026 Theodosis Pipis 17 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus has increased its development aid spending even as European Union assistance falls sharply overall, according to CONCORD’s 2026 AidWatch report, presented today in Brussels. The report is the annual monitoring exercise of CONCORD, the Brussels-based confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Since 2005, it has tracked how much development assistance the EU and its member states provide, where the money goes, and how closely it matches their commitments. EU aid falls as Cyprus moves the other way EU official development assistance (ODA) fell by 11.4% in 2025, as both member states and EU institutions made some of their deepest cuts in decades, the report says. CONCORD estimates that around 22% of the ODA reported by the EU in 2025 was “inflated” — spending that did not reach developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and among Indigenous populations, or did not have a direct development impact. Against that backdrop, Cyprus stands out as a small provider moving in the opposite direction. The report describes a new phase for Cyprus following the institutionalisation of CyprusAid in 2024, with the mechanism becoming more visible in coordinating development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. Cyprus increased its ODA allocations significantly, while maintaining a strong focus on humanitarian action and its role in the Eastern Mediterranean, including through the Amalthea Plan, which has contributed to the response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Its aid portfolio is also expanding into education, training, capacity-building, gender equality and support for the Sustainable Development Goals. Report calls for clearer strategy The report says Cyprus could make its growing role more effective with a clearer public strategy for development cooperation, more transparent reporting of what is counted as ODA, and a more structured relationship with civil society. Although cooperation already exists with organisations such as the Red Cross and Volunteer Doctors Cyprus, the report says there is no formal mechanism through which Cypriot civil society can systematically help shape aid priorities, implementation or monitoring. Cuts do not have to mean lower quality, report says The report also highlights a more positive message: cuts do not necessarily mean lower-quality aid. European countries are taking different approaches, and some are managing to protect the development impact of their assistance despite tighter budgets. Luxembourg, Sweden, Belgium, Spain and Denmark are highlighted for practices that could offer lessons to others, including maintaining strong levels of untied and country-focused aid, and prioritising the world’s least developed and most fragile countries. “New financing instruments can complement ODA, but must not redefine it. Development impact must remain at the centre, backed by transparency and strong safeguards for poverty and inequalities reduction,” Lur Fernandez Salinas Policy and Advocacy Adviser for CONCORD told en.philenews. “EU development cooperation can evolve without losing sight of its core mandate,” she added. The report says political choices matter, calling for poverty and inequality reduction to remain at the centre of European aid, rather than allowing development assistance to become increasingly driven by strategic or economic interests. Protecting grants and highly concessional finance for countries most in need, alongside commitments to issues such as gender equality and disability inclusion, is presented as essential to maintaining the quality, transparency and credibility of European development cooperation. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Cyprus signs Bahrain shipping deal, eyes bigger role as East Med bridge Storms and hail forecast for Thursday, cooler weekend ahead French fishers block oil depot in protest over fuel costs Defence accuses Habakkuk Monastery witness of lying, presents ‘forged’ document Explainer: EU chief wants Canada to become an ‘associate member’. What does that mean? EU eases carbon rules to help heavy industry stay competitive Saudis pound Yemen, Houthis fire at Saudi, as Middle East war spreads Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.