SPD politicians are speaking out against proposed cuts to development aid, noting that the value of development cooperation is currently “more questioned than ever before” according to a position paper from the “Seeheimer Kreis” which was reported on by Der Spiegel. Johann Saathoff, a member of the SPD in the Bundestag and a state secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), argues that the “disastrous consequences” of the U.S. withdrawal from international cooperation are becoming increasingly evident.
The paper also stresses that the German budget faces pressure, arguing that the strategic value of development cooperation must therefore be clearly justified. According to the “Seeheimer Kreis” more than 50 out of 120 SPD parliamentary members align with the conservative faction.
In terms of actual budget constraints, the BMZ’s budget was reduced by 910 million euros in 2025, bringing the total to 10.31 billion euros. Adding approximately 15 billion euros from other budgetary sources, the total is nearly as large as the budget for the Federal Ministry of Transport.
Despite these financial pressures, public perception remains vastly different from budgetary realities. A survey by the polling company Pollytix found that most citizens overestimate the spending allocated to development aid, estimating an average of twelve percent of GDP, when the actual figure is only 0.56%. The OECD target benchmark is set at 0.7 percent. The “Seeheimer Kreis” emphasizes that the focus is not on generalized increased spending but rather on defining clear priorities, effectiveness, and the targeted use of existing funds, arguing that “responsibility and German interest must be considered together”.
