Ruth Faber reflects on a ‘vision for Europe’ shared with MEPs at a recent EU-CORD breakfast event in Strasbourg.
As elected representatives, you are uniquely positioned to shape policies that will guide our collective future. This morning, we step back to consider the kind of Europe we want to create as our legacy.
We gather at a time of profound challenges marked by geopolitical tensions, climate emergencies, and economic instability. These overlapping crises require leadership rooted not in fear but in courage, compassion, and vision.
Like many, I feel the pull of a “fear response.” Yet, as a Christian, I draw strength from the reflection that “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18).
This perfect love should guide our collective work—a love demonstrated in solidarity with the poor, welcoming the stranger, caring for creation, and unwavering advocacy for justice and equality.
This guiding principle aligns with the EU’s founding treaties, which placed poverty reduction and, ultimately, its eradication at the heart of the EU’s development policy and international cooperation efforts.
Within the Christian tradition, we are called to engage in acts of service and embrace a prophetic calling to transform systems for justice. This is about far more than addressing symptoms; it is about creating a new reality where solidarity with the poor and inclusion of the marginalised underpin every decision.
Pivotal Choices
As Members of the European Parliament, you face pivotal choices in shaping policies that deeply affect relief, development, and the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Over 1.1 billion people live in acute poverty, with over half—584 million—being children under 18. Additionally, 1.8 billion people live in fragile states, and over 3 billion are in areas highly vulnerable to climate change,
The question is whether we will build a Europe defined by love, solidarity, and justice—or one constrained by self-interest, eroding our shared humanity and leaving many behind?
From my perspective, the policy direction emerging from EU policymakers often reflects a selective form of compassion that privileges some while marginalising others. Narrowing participation to immediate interests, sidelining civil society, and failing to uphold democratic values and human rights will inevitably limit the EU’s transformative potential.
Later this morning, we want to get a sense of your agenda—here’s what’s on ours.
The Defining Role of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework
The Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) represents a defining test of Europe’s commitment to its stated values.
As Members of the European Parliament, you determine the priorities that will guide the EU’s future and signal how seriously Europe takes global solidarity.
We are concerned by the deprioritisation of people-centred approaches, significant reductions in funding allocations, the dominance of the Global Gateway, and emerging proposals that place humanitarian aid and development under a single regulation.
This consolidation could blur the lines between official development assistance (ODA), humanitarian aid, and security-related funding, weakening the focus on poverty reduction and weakening the EU’s long-held commitment to principled humanitarian action.
There is the risk of instrumentalising ODA, whereby ODA is channelled primarily toward migration management, security, or economic objectives that serve Europe’s own priorities rather than addressing genuine development needs in partner countries.
Another challenge is the growing emphasis on blended finance and private-sector instruments. While combining public resources with private investments can spur innovation, it does not always guarantee real development gains, especially in low-income or fragile contexts. In some cases, it may even lead to additional debt burdens for partner countries, contradicting the principle of sustainable development.
In light of these challenges, we urge you to use your legislative power to ensure that policies and funding embody genuine solidarity, enabling the most vulnerable communities—particularly those most affected by climate change and inequality—to flourish. Europe’s aspiration to become a “reference donor” can only be realised through mutual respect, equity, and sincere partnership.
Fragile States and Resilient Communities
EU-CORD also raises awareness on how to work effectively in fragile contexts and politically estranged states where weak governance, conflict, and climate crises converge, eroding the social contract between governments and citizens.
Here, faith-based organisations (FBOs) can play an essential role in fostering trust and sustaining social cohesion and we will continue to work with ActAlliance EU, Caritas Europa, and Islamic Relief to share this message.
In a recent roundtable, we heard from local and national faith-based organisations (FBOs) that operate with deep community roots, often where state institutions are weak or absent.
Their long-term presence and faith-based identity help them build credibility, reach marginalised communities, and fill critical gaps in humanitarian access. Whether establishing local peace committees, brokering trust between communities and government authorities, or integrating development and livelihood support with emergency response, FBOs can help make the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus a reality on the ground.
Yet, FBOs in fragile states face significant challenges. Funding for local actors is often short-term and unpredictable, limiting their ability to address root causes of conflict while also responding to urgent needs. Despite official recognition of FBOs’ importance, institutional barriers—including within the EU—hinder effective collaboration. Donors and policymakers must commit to more flexible, integrated approaches to sustain longer-term programming.
This means supporting immediate humanitarian relief and peacebuilding efforts, backed by reliable funding instruments that promote the genuine inclusion of local voices.
EU-CORD advocates for such long-term funding to rebuild trust, strengthen institutions, and empower local initiatives that promote justice and peace. In fragile contexts, shifting toward multi-year, flexible funding and structured partnerships with FBOs can create a stable foundation to address urgent crises and the systemic drivers of instability.
Civil Society: Building Systems for Justice
A vibrant civil society is the cornerstone of a fair and inclusive Europe. Civil society organisations defend human rights, ensure accountability, and champion community-driven development. Yet, these vital spaces face growing threats worldwide, including within Europe.
For EU-CORD, protecting civil society is not only about supporting partners abroad—it is also about safeguarding the democratic mandate at home. When civil society is sidelined, democracy weakens, and the voices of the most vulnerable are silenced. As a faith-based network, we view civil society as essential for systemic transformation, meaningful engagement and civil society space will be key themes for us on the coming years.
Grounding Policies in Human Impact
In our interconnected world, policy decisions have very real consequences for people’s lives.
In 2025, EU-CORD and other faith-based organisations will investigate how Europe’s push for critical raw materials is negatively affecting communities, with an initial focus on Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Today, we have the privilege of hearing from Alexandre Bitenga, a research consultant and PhD candidate at the University of Leuven, whose findings illuminate how Europe’s choices directly impact vulnerable populations—and remind us of the urgent need to shape policies anchored in justice and solidarity.
This work underscores our collective responsibility to uphold the principle of “leave no one behind,” which, for EU-CORD, includes particular emphasis on the inclusion of persons with disabilities. We are members of the International Disability and Development Consortium and look forward to a successful Global Disability Summit in Germany in the coming months.
A Vision Realised
As we look ahead, Europe’s path will be shaped by choices that require leadership grounded in love rather than fear. By anchoring our policies and actions in this principle, we can create a future where no one is left behind and justice is more than a lofty ideal.
Let us choose to rise to this challenge. Let us resist the forces that diminish our common humanity and affirm policies that reflect our highest values. Together—policymakers, civil society, and faith-based organisations—we can shape a Europe that embodies perfect love for all.
