{"id":"topics/development-cooperation","title":"Development cooperation","type":"topic","html":"<p>Development cooperation returns to the Chamber every year of the 2023–2028 legislature, from the vote in December 2023 on Luxembourg's contribution to the International Development Association to the debate of March 2026 on the reorientation of cooperation policy. The Chamber debated the 1 % target for official development aid and what may be counted inside it, the capital of the multilateral development banks, the Samoa partnership agreement, the loss of the Caritas projects, and the place of NGOs and business in cooperation. The quotes below are taken verbatim from the Compte rendu officiel of each sitting.</p>\n<h2>CSV</h2>\n<p>On 2 April 2025, in the debate on bill 8422 on the statutes of four multilateral development banks, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fmaurice-bauer\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/maurice-bauer\">Maurice Bauer</a> argued the bill matters more because the United States has wound up USAID.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Wann ee bedenkt, dass Amerika seng Entwécklungshëllefsagence USAID elo rezent ofgeschaaft huet a sech domadder massiv aus der internationaler Entwécklungshëllef zeréckgezunn huet, ass dëse Projet de loi ëmsou méi wichteg.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>If you consider that America has recently abolished its development aid agency USAID and has thereby withdrawn massively from international development aid, this bill is all the more important.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2025-04-02-n077\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2025-04-02-n077\">Sitting of 2 April 2025</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fmaurice-bauer\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/maurice-bauer\">Maurice Bauer</a>, CSV</p>\n<p>On 19 March 2026, in the debate on development cooperation policy, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Flaurent-zeimet\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/laurent-zeimet\">Laurent Zeimet</a> stated his party's continued commitment to development cooperation.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Mir stinn zu dësem Engagement, an dat zanter Laangem. Fir eis als CSV bleift d’Kooperatiounspolitick en Engagement fir eng besser Welt, en Engagement, fir Aarmut a Misär op anere Plazen an der Welt ze reduzéieren.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>We stand by this commitment, and have done for a long time. For us in the CSV, cooperation policy remains a commitment to a better world, a commitment to reduce poverty and misery in other places in the world.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2026-03-19-n135\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2026-03-19-n135\">Sitting of 19 March 2026</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Flaurent-zeimet\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/laurent-zeimet\">Laurent Zeimet</a>, CSV</p>\n<h2>DP</h2>\n<p>On 11 July 2024, in the debate on the motion on additionality in official development aid, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fgusty-graas\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/gusty-graas\">Gusty Graas</a> stated his party's position that additionality should be kept.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Mir sinn och duerfir der Meenung, datt een déi Additionalitéit u sech net soll suppriméieren, datt een déi soll bäibehalen, datt een eeben och an Zukunft soll dat dann dee Moment trennen.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>That is also why we take the view that additionality should not be abolished, that it should be kept, and that in future the two should still be separated.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2024-07-11-n038\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2024-07-11-n038\">Sitting of 11 July 2024</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fgusty-graas\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/gusty-graas\">Gusty Graas</a>, DP</p>\n<p>On 12 February 2026, in the debate on bill 8621 on the capital of the African Development Bank, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fguy-arendt\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/guy-arendt\">Guy Arendt</a> argued how Africa should be regarded.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Mee ech wëll awer och ënnersträichen, dass Afrika net nëmmen als en Empfänger vun Entwécklungshëllef soll ugesi ginn.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>But I also want to underline that Africa should not be seen only as a recipient of development aid.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2026-02-12-n127\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2026-02-12-n127\">Sitting of 12 February 2026</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fguy-arendt\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/guy-arendt\">Guy Arendt</a>, DP</p>\n<h2>LSAP</h2>\n<p>On 16 May 2024, in his question élargie on the announced reorientation of development education policy, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Ffranz-fayot\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/franz-fayot\">Franz Fayot</a> called the announced change of course a radical about-turn that threatens NGOs.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Dëst ass natierlech eng zimmlech radikal Kehrtwende, déi munch ONGe virun existenziell Problemer stellt.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>This is of course quite a radical about-turn, which puts several NGOs before existential problems.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2024-05-16-n027\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2024-05-16-n027\">Sitting of 16 May 2024</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Ffranz-fayot\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/franz-fayot\">Franz Fayot</a>, LSAP</p>\n<p>On 19 March 2026, in the debate on development cooperation policy, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Ffranz-fayot\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/franz-fayot\">Franz Fayot</a> reported the current level of official development aid and what the figure excludes.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Mir sinn aktuell bei 1 % vum Revenu national brut, wat eis Aide publique au développement ugeet. An do sinn d’Finanzementer fir den Accueil vu Refugiéen a fir Klima net dran.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>We are currently at 1 % of gross national income for our official development aid. And the funding for receiving refugees and for climate is not inside it.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2026-03-19-n135\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2026-03-19-n135\">Sitting of 19 March 2026</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Ffranz-fayot\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/franz-fayot\">Franz Fayot</a>, LSAP</p>\n<h2>ADR</h2>\n<p>On 11 July 2024, in the debate on the motion on additionality in official development aid, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Ffred-keup\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/fred-keup\">Fred Keup</a> stated his party's support for the 0.7 % target agreed at the 1992 Rio summit.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Mir stinn och als ADR hannert der Fuerderung vum Weltsommet vu Rio aus dem Joer 1992, wou gesot ginn ass, datt déi räich Länner sollen 0,7 % vun hirem nationale Bruttoakommes fir déi ëffentlech Entwécklungshëllef asetzen.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>We in the ADR also stand behind the demand of the 1992 Rio world summit, which said that the rich countries should put 0.7 % of their gross national income into public development aid.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2024-07-11-n038\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2024-07-11-n038\">Sitting of 11 July 2024</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Ffred-keup\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/fred-keup\">Fred Keup</a>, ADR</p>\n<p>On 19 March 2026, in the debate on development cooperation policy, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Falexandra-schoos\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/alexandra-schoos\">Alexandra Schoos</a> proposed a cap on development aid at 0.7 % of gross national income, with everything the OECD rules allow counted in.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>D’ADR huet an hirem Programm dowéinst eng aner Prioritéit gesat: e Plafonnement vun der Entwécklungshëllef op 0,7 % vum RNB am Aklang mam Versprieche vu Rio, dobäi awer mat voller Kontabiliséierung vun allem, wat d’Reegele vum CAD an der OECD erlaben.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>The ADR has therefore set a different priority in its programme: a cap on development aid at 0.7 % of gross national income in line with the Rio promise, but with full accounting of everything the OECD DAC rules allow.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2026-03-19-n135\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2026-03-19-n135\">Sitting of 19 March 2026</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Falexandra-schoos\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/alexandra-schoos\">Alexandra Schoos</a>, ADR</p>\n<h2>déi gréng</h2>\n<p>On 11 July 2024, presenting her motion on additionality in official development aid, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fjoelle-welfring\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/joelle-welfring\">Joëlle Welfring</a> argued that helping refugees inside the country does not meet the OECD definition of development aid.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>An et kann ee wierklech beim beschte Wëllen net behaapten, dass, wann een de Leit, déi op der Flucht sinn, hei am Land hëlleft, dat wierklech deem doten Zil entsprécht.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>And with the best will in the world you really cannot claim that helping people who are fleeing, here in the country, corresponds to that aim.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2024-07-11-n038\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2024-07-11-n038\">Sitting of 11 July 2024</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fjoelle-welfring\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/joelle-welfring\">Joëlle Welfring</a>, déi gréng</p>\n<p>On 12 February 2025, in the annual debate on development cooperation policy, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fmeris-sehovic\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/meris-sehovic\">Meris Sehovic</a> criticised those who would turn cooperation policy into a business platform.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Déi, déi gären d’Kooperatioun zum Business degradéieren, sollte sech bewosst sinn: Solidaritéit ass keen Deal – si ass eng moralesch Verflichtung!</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>Those who like to downgrade cooperation to business should be aware: solidarity is not a deal, it is a moral obligation!</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2025-02-12-n066\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2025-02-12-n066\">Sitting of 12 February 2025</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fmeris-sehovic\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/meris-sehovic\">Meris Sehovic</a>, déi gréng</p>\n<h2>Piraten</h2>\n<p>On 12 February 2026, in the debate on bill 8621 on the capital of the African Development Bank, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fsven-clement\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/sven-clement\">Sven Clement</a> stated a claim about Luxembourg's development spending.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Mir sinn dat Land, dat pro Kapp an awer och gemooss u sengem nationale Räichtum, dem RNB, am meeschte Geld an der Kooperatioun investéiert.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>We are the country that invests the most money in cooperation per head and also measured against its national wealth, the GNI.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2026-02-12-n127\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2026-02-12-n127\">Sitting of 12 February 2026</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fsven-clement\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/sven-clement\">Sven Clement</a>, Piraten</p>\n<h2>déi Lénk</h2>\n<p>On 12 February 2025, in the annual debate on development cooperation policy, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fdavid-wagner\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/david-wagner\">David Wagner</a> argued that Rwanda under Paul Kagame can no longer be a partner of Luxembourg cooperation.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>No deem, wat dann an de leschte Woche geschitt ass, misste mer eis eigentlech alleguerten eens sinn, datt de Regimm vum Paul Kagame kee Partner méi ka si fir d’Lëtzebuerger Kooperatioun.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>After what has happened in recent weeks, we should all agree that Paul Kagame's regime can no longer be a partner for Luxembourg cooperation.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2025-02-12-n066\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2025-02-12-n066\">Sitting of 12 February 2025</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fdavid-wagner\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/david-wagner\">David Wagner</a>, déi Lénk</p>\n<p>On 19 March 2026, in the debate on development cooperation policy, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fdavid-wagner\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/david-wagner\">David Wagner</a> attacked the reorientation of cooperation policy that the minister announced the day before.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Här President, dat, wat den Här Bettel hei gëschter ugekënnegt huet, ass keng kleng Moderniséierung vun eiser Kooperatiounspolitick, et ass eng brachial Ëmorientéierung an déi falsch Richtung, bei där zentral Prinzippien iwwer Bord geheit ginn.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>Mr President, what Mr Bettel announced here yesterday is not a small modernisation of our cooperation policy, it is a brutal reorientation in the wrong direction, in which central principles are thrown overboard.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2026-03-19-n135\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2026-03-19-n135\">Sitting of 19 March 2026</a>, <a href=\"/lhoft?page=deputies%2Fdavid-wagner\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"deputies/david-wagner\">David Wagner</a>, déi Lénk</p>\n<h2>Ministers</h2>\n<p>On 14 December 2023, in the debate on bill 8257 on Luxembourg's contribution to the International Development Association, Gilles Roth committed the new government to the existing development aid targets and amounts.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Jo, och déi nei Regierung wäert zu deem Engagement um Niveau vun der Entwécklungshëllef stoen, souwuel wat d’Zilsetzung ubelaangt wéi och, wat de Montant vun deenen Engagementer ubelaangt!</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>Yes, the new government too will stand by that commitment at the level of development aid, both as regards the target and as regards the amount of those commitments!</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2023-12-14-n006\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2023-12-14-n006\">Sitting of 14 December 2023</a>, Gilles Roth, Ministre des Finances</p>\n<p>On 19 March 2026, in the debate on development cooperation policy, Xavier Bettel warned what the Chamber's earlier additionality motion adds to yearly spending.</p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Ech wollt just warnen, dass mer alljoers eng 70 Millioune bis 80 Millioune méi ausgi wéi dat, wat mer am Koalitiounsaccord hunn, wéinst där Motioun.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p><em>I only wanted to warn that every year we spend some 70 to 80 million more than what we have in the coalition agreement, because of that motion.</em></p>\n<p><a href=\"/lhoft?page=seances%2F2026-03-19-n135\" class=\"wikiLink\" data-target=\"seances/2026-03-19-n135\">Sitting of 19 March 2026</a>, Xavier Bettel, Ministre de la Coopération et de l’Action humanitaire</p>"}