International cooperation

The beginning of the European Union’s (EU) development cooperation coincided with the signature of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, and the overseas countries and territories of EU Member States were its first beneficiaries. Over the years, the extent of EU development cooperation has gradually increased. The EU is now the world’s largest donor, working with some 160 countries.

Development cooperation has to be conducted in accordance with the principles and objectives of the EU’s external action. Its primary aim is to reduce and, in the long term, eradicate poverty in the world by promoting the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of developing countries in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.

The guiding principles of EU external action and development cooperation are found in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, respectively.

The EU’s instruments for financing external action have undergone a rationalisation in recent years. Since the adoption of the multiannual financial framework for the 2021–2027 period, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe is the main financing instrument for the EU’s external action. It covers cooperation with all non-EU countries, other than overseas countries and territories and countries receiving pre-accession funding.

Prior to 2021, the European Development Fund (which was not part of the EU budget) was the EU’s main instrument for development aid to the 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the overseas countries and territories. In the latest EU multiannual financial framework (2021–2027), cooperation with ACP countries was brought under the EU budget and is covered by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe.

Although the 2000 agreement between the EU and the ACP countries (the Cotonou Agreement) was due to expire in 2020, its application has been extended until 30 September 2023, unless the new ACP–EU partnership agreement enters into force or is provisionally applied before that date.