The text—formally titled “Report on Development Financing – Ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville”—had called, among other things, for unconditional debt relief for developing countries. It also advocated higher development aid contributions by EU member states, global wealth taxes, and transfer payments to mitigate climate change in nations of the southern hemisphere. Most of these costs would have fallen on European—and therefore especially German—taxpayers. The report failed to pass: the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) group voted against it together with other center-right groups; in total, a majority of 340 MEPs rejected the Seville Report.
AfD MEPs Dr. Marc Jongen and Tomasz Froelich also introduced a counter-resolution that would make readmission agreements with migrants’ countries of origin a precondition for any further development funds. Their motion received 120 votes in the plenary.
Marc Jongen, ESN coordinator on the Development Committee and shadow rapporteur for the Seville Report, explained:
“The AfD’s votes make the difference! Only through our efforts was there a majority against the Seville Report, preventing further burdens on German citizens. At the same time, a clear signal is being sent: development policy must come with give-and-take. Without the readmission of migrants, no more billions should flow from Europe to Third-World countries.”
Tomasz Froelich, co-initiator of the counter-resolution, added:
“Since 1980, roughly two trillion dollars in development funds have been paid to sub-Saharan Africa, a substantial share of which is embezzled and disappears into tax havens. In light of Africa’s population explosion and our strained economic situation, the time is ripe for a paradigm shift. Sweden and the USA show that it can be done differently—the EU must follow their example.”
