The German development budget is set to fall by almost €1 billion ($1.17 billion) in 2025, lawmakers confirmed on Thursday, amid warnings from aid organizations about further cuts to global health support in the coming years.
The plans for the Development Ministry were approved by the Budget Committee in the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament.
Development spending is to fall by €940 million to €10.3 billion in 2025. The budget must still be passed in the Bundestag, with a vote set for the middle of the month.
The committee made small adjustments to the plans, with €22 million more set to go to the World Food Programme and an additional €10 million to be allocated to the fight against polio.
Christian Haase from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives said that development aid is now focusing on essentials.
The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), the junior partner in Merz’s coalition, believe the funding is insufficient.
“But the coalition agreement obliges us to make comprehensive savings,” said SPD lawmaker Felix Döring.
Earlier, a draft by the Finance Ministry seen by dpa showed that the country’s contributions to a landmark global health fund are to drop further than previously known.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is set to receive €100 million less than initially planned over the coming years, according to the plans, which are set to be submitted to the parliamentary budget committee.
Under the draft, €370 million are earmarked for disbursement this year.
For 2026–2028, Berlin has proposed €850 million in commitments, down from the originally planned €950 million.
Development organization One described the Global Fund as a central financing instrument in international aid, aimed at preventing the spread of HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
It operates in 120 countries and supports disease treatment and preventive measures such as the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Germany’s Green Party criticized the planned cuts. “At a time when the US is stepping back from global health financing, Germany is cutting funding for the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. That is disastrous,” Green budget politician Jamila Schäfer told dpa.
She warned that inaction could lead to major setbacks in combating the diseases. The Greens, the second-largest opposition party, plan to propose raising the Global Fund’s funding by €45 million this year and boosting total support to €1.4 billion for 2026–2028.
Source: dpa
Source: ghanabusinessnews.com
