EU Policy
Development policy is a shared competence of the European Commission and the Member States. However, since the beginning of the years 2000, the Member States begun to develop a “common vision” and to increase coordination of policy and action in view of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
This common vision was formalised by the European Consensus on Development adopted by the Council, the Parliament and the Commission in 2006.The primary objective of development cooperation as stated in the European Consensus is the eradication of poverty and the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals.
The European Union as a whole (the Commission and the 27 Member States) provides around 60% of international development aid. The Commission provides for 20% of the total, which makes it the largest donor in the EU.
The European Commission created a series of financing instruments that determine the priority sectors, the amounts allocated, the financing modalities. Four geographical instruments frame the bilateral cooperation between the EU and developing partner countries according to their geographical location.
The European Development Fund is used to support 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
The European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument is the framework for cooperation between the EU and 17 countries at its borders (10 countries at the South of the Mediterranean, and 7 on the Eastern border).
The Development Cooperation Instrument offers support to Asian and Latin American countries.
The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance offers support to countries that have started the EU accession process.
Besides the geographical instruments, the European Commission developed a certain number of thematic programmes. The objective is capacity building of civil society organisations and local authorities in partner countries in specific domains, irrespective of their geographical location. These programmes represent financing opportunities for the implementation of projects and allow to support cooperation between European and local actors. Calls for proposals are published on the DG DEVCO website (Directorate General for Development and Cooperation) and on the websites of the EU delegations.
Non-State Actors – Local Authorities
Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources
European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights
