US vs. EU Development Approach: One is Dead, What’s Next for The Other?
The EU's uncoordinated response to the USAID funding freeze, alongside broader shifts in its cooperation strategy, has raised concerns among partner countries about its reliability as a donor and its relevance as a genuine development partner. In her commentary for the
European Centre for Development Policy Management, Gemma Pinyol Puig suggests that this shift creates opportunities for China, Gulf states and other actors, whose financing models – often focused on large-scale infrastructure projects developed without pro-democratic conditions – have gained significant traction. Amid a broader global trend of democratic backsliding, including within the EU and the US, concerns are growing that democracy-related issues may receive less emphasis. This, she argues, makes it crucial for the EU to redefine its role as a credible, strategic, and long-term partner that aligns with the priorities of national and local actors and supports democratic oversight.
https://ecdpm.org
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