EU Development Policy

Latest news on the development policies of the European Union.

EU gender equality plan puts women's rights at heart of global recovery

The EU executive and its foreign affairs arm put forward ambitious plans Wednesday to promote gender equality and women's empowerment through all external action of the European Union.

EU finds EUR 15.6 bn to support global effort against pandemic

The EU is to redirect from existing external resources financial support amounting to more than €15.6 billion to partner countries to help partner countries with their efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Future ACP-EU Partnership

New impetus was given to the post-Cotonou negotiations on a new agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) when the two chief negotiators agreed on 17 February on the way forward.

EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls

Today in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the European Union and the United Nations are hosting a high level event on the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative - inviting all countries, leaders, civil society representatives and local ambassadors to join the movement and take action to end violence against women and girls.

EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls

The European Union and the United Nations announced on 27 September a EUR 50 million programme to end femicide in Latin America as part of the Spotlight Initiative, a partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, backed by an initial EUR 500 million.

Increase in EU spending on education in emergencies

The EU Commission adopted Friday a new policy framework to increase humanitarian funding for education in emergencies and crises to 10% of its overall humanitarian aid budget as of 2019.

Concern over decrease in EU's development aid

A decline in development aid from the EU and its Member States is linked to an 80 per cent reduction in debt relief operations and a decrease in in-donor refugee costs, the EU Commission said Tuesday.

First actions of EU's External Investment Plan

The European Commission's concrete areas of investments for the EU's External Investment Plan will mobilise EUR 44 billion of sustainable investment for Africa and the EU Neighbourhood countries.

Green light for European sustainable development fund

A European fund for sustainable development to support investments in African and neighbourhood countries will be set upo later this week, following Monday's agreement by the EU Council of Ministers.

European Consensus on Development

The European Consensus on Development is a shared vision and framework for action for development cooperation for the European Union (EU) and its Member States. It is a blueprint which aligns the Union's development policy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

EU leaders sign blueprint for future European development policy

The EU signed a 'New European Consensus on Development' Wednesday, a strategic vision for European development policy with the aim of eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development.

New European Consensus on Development

The European Union and its Member States signed on 7 June 2017 a strategic blueprint, outlining the future of European development policy. This "New European Consensus on Development" represents a new collective vision and plan of action to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development.

EU drives new impetus for Europe-Africa partnership

The European Commission and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini set out Thursday the EU's political priorities and concrete proposals for a stronger strategic partnership with Africa.

EU development aid EUR 75.5 billion in 2016

The European Union and its Member States have consolidated their place as the world's leading aid donor, with official aid reaching EUR 75 bn in 2016, according to new figures.

2016 Official EU Development Assistance

New figures confirm the EU and its Member States have consolidated their place as the world's leading aid donor in 2016. This data is based on results reported last year by members of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD-DAC).

New WTO trade deal enters into force

The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) – the most significant multilateral trade deal concluded since the establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995 - entered into force Wednesday.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

The European Union has actively participated in international cooperation to promote the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation. Discussion on Female Genital Mutilation is included in human rights and political dialogues with partner countries and in annual dialogues with civil society organisations.

Commission sets out plan for sustainable Europe

The European Commission set out a framework for development cooperation for the EU and its Member States Tuesday, with plans for implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

EU development cooperation links with climate action

Factsheet on the links between the European Union's initiatives on development cooperation and climate action

EU-Afghanistan relations

The European Union has a long-term partnership with Afghanistan. Since 2002, the European Union has provided EUR 3.66 billion in development and humanitarian aid, making it the fourth largest donor in support of the Afghan people. Afghanistan is also the largest beneficiary of EU development assistance; together with its Member States, the European Union contributes more than EUR 1 billion in development assistance per year to Afghanistan.

EU External Investment Plan

An External Investment Plan, proposed by the European Commission on 14 September, would support investment in our partner countries, in Africa and the European Neighbourhood, to strengthen EU partnerships, promote a new model of participation of the private sector and contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The plan forms part of broader efforts the EU is pursuing on the basis of the new Partnership Framework adopted in June.

EU measures to support security and development in partner countries

The European Commission and EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini presented measures on 5 July to enhance the European Union's effectiveness in supporting stability, security and development in third countries. The measures were outlined in a Joint Communication on security sector reform in partner countries and a legislative proposal to extend the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP).

EU looks to key partnerships to help tackle migrant crisis

A new focus on third country partnerships in conjunction with development aid to tackle the root causes of migration was promised by the EU Commission in a new plan set out Tuesday.

EU development aid - highest-ever share of Gross National Income

Preliminary figures show that collectively, the EU - EU institutions and Member States – have increased Official Development Assistance (ODA) to EUR 68 billion in 2015 (up 15% from EUR 59 billion in 2014) – growing for the third year in a row (and reaching its highest level to date). EU collective ODA represented 0.47% of EU Gross National Income (GNI) in 2015, an increase from 0.43% in 2014. This is significantly above the non-EU Development Assistance Committee (DAC) country average of 0.21% ODA/GNI.

New framework for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment

The European Commission and the European External Action Service adopted on 20 September a new framework for the EU's activities on gender equality and women's empowerment in EU's external relations.