EU donor profile

The EU is the largest multilateral donor; migration-related spending drives ODA increases

The European Union (EU) is a multilateral organization that receives funding from its member states. At the same time, it is a donor that channels ODA itself: The EU institutions are the fourth-largest donor of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), after the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom (UK). The EU’s net ODA stood at US$16.5 billion in 2017 (in current prices, US$16.0 billion in 2016 prices, according to the OECD DAC preliminary data for 2017). This is a 7% decrease (or US$1.1 billion) from 2016, which is largely attributable to a decreasing amount of loans disbursed by the EU. Nevertheless, this comes after a 24% increase between 2015 and 2016: Net ODA from EU institutions peaked at US$17.1 billion in 2016, largely due to increased contributions from several member states (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) as a response to the unprecedented arrivals of asylum seekers starting in 2015. Humanitarian aid has also seen significant increases in spending (+37% between 2015 and 2016; see question two: ‘What are the EU’s strategic priorities for development’ for more detail). This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, with funds for humanitarian aid coming on top of the approved baseline spending for the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework (MFF).

The EU’s ODA stood at US$17.1 billion in 2016, increasing from 2015 levels

The allocation of development funding for the EU’s current 2014-2020 MFF has largely been determined, though variations can be made each year, and it includes reserves that are flexible for the seven-year duration (see question four: ‘How is the EU’s ODA budget structured?’). The EU’s development funding comes mostly from two sources: the European Development Fund (EDF), which provides funds for African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries; the EDF is financed by direct contributions from the member states, with €30.5 billion (US$33.7 billion) for the 2014-2020 period. The Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), which provides funds primarily to countries in Asia and Latin America, is part of the EU’s general budget line ‘Global Europe’ (Heading 4); €19.6 billion (US$21.7 billion) has been allocated to the DCI for 2014 to 2020 (for more details see question four: ‘How is the EU’s ODA budget structured?’).

Further readings

Government sources

• DG DEVCO; DEVCO Annual Report 2016; 2017 
• DG DEVCO; DEVCO website on European Development Policy; 2018 
• DG DEVCO; European Consensus on Development; 2017 
• European Commission; Press release: EU Official Development Assistance reaches highest level ever; 2017 

Other official sources

• OECD DAC; Peer review, EU Institutions; 2012

Civil society 

• CONCORD; AidWatch Report 2017; 2017

Increased emphasis on migration and security-related issues

The EU’s development strategy is outlined in the European Consensus on Development, signed by the three main EU institutions (the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union) in June 2017. Its overarching objectives are poverty reduction and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The objectives have been translated into four frameworks for action:

• ‘People – human development and dignity’, which includes education, nutrition, access to water, health, decent work, environment, and human rights (particularly rights of the disabled, youth, women and girls, and displaced persons);
• ‘Planet – protecting the environment, managing natural resources, and tackling climate change’;
• ‘Prosperity – inclusive and sustainable growth and jobs’, which includes a focus on investment and trade, green business models and sustainable agriculture, tax evasion and illicit financial flows, and innovation;
• ‘Peace – peaceful and inclusive societies, democracy, effective and accountable institutions, rule of law, and human rights for all’, which includes a focus on humanitarian assistance.

The Consensus highlights the EU’s commitment to strengthen interlinkages between different sectors, such as development, peace and security, and humanitarian aid, as well as between cross-cutting elements such as youth, gender, and migration. It also underlines the intention to combine traditional development assistance with other resources, including private-sector investments and domestic resource mobilization. Finally, the Consensus aims to create better-tailored partnerships with the partner countries, including civil society and other stakeholders. 

In 2012, the Agenda for Change was adopted, which outlines policy guidelines that complement the Consensus. The main objective of the Agenda for Change is to improve the effectiveness of EU development policy; it prioritizes general budget support with stricter aid conditionality, and highlights the use of innovative financing mechanisms, such as the blending of grants and loans.

The Cotonou Agreement, a partnership framework signed in 2000, governs relations between the EU and African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries; it is the framework for the European Development Fund (EDF). The Cotonou Agreement is set to expire in February 2020. Negotiations to renew the terms after 2020 officially begin by September 2018. In practice, discussions are already underway. In December 2017, the European Commission (Commission) published recommendations, suggesting an umbrella agreement defining common values and interests, followed by three distinct agreements with, respectively, African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. Throughout the first semester of 2018, EU member state foreign ministers will discuss the negotiating mandate and directives for the Commission. In the second quarter of 2018, the Commission plans to seek approval for its proposal.

In 2018 and early 2019, the EU institutions will agree on the priorities, structure, and budgets for the next multiannual financing framework (MFF 2021-2027). According to the Commission, the next MFF will have to 'fund more with less' at a time when the EU's budget is shrinking due to ‘Brexit’ but pressure is mounting to do more to, among other things, manage migration flows into the EU and tackle climate change. EU member states must decide how much they are willing to commit to the next EU budget and what the spending priorities and limits should be. These discussions, running in parallel with Brexit negotiations, could significantly change the structure of EU ODA.

Under discussion is a merging of all EU development cooperation funding into a single instrument, including the EDF. This would mean that the EDF would be incorporated into the EU budget for the first time. The Commission’s Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) has indicated that the design of the new development financing instruments in the new MFF should address the growing number of fragile and conflict-affected regions, expanding geopolitical uncertainties and security threats, impact of climate change, and increased migration flows. In May 2018, the Commission will present a first proposal for the MFF 2021-2027, to which the other EU institutions will respond; the process is unlikely to be finalized before 2019.

The EU disburses nearly all its ODA bilaterally; focus is on humanitarian aid, infrastructure projects, and financial services

The EU is a multilateral institution that receives funding from its member states. At the same time, it is a donor that channels ODA itself; it provides the vast share directly to countries as bilateral ODA (99% in 2016). Multilateral contributions amounted to only US$274 million in 2016.

Bilateral ODA from the EU increased significantly between 2015 and 2016, rising by 19% from US$15.7 billion gross ODA in 2015 to US$18.6 billion in 2016. This resulted largely from increased contributions from several member states as a response to the unprecedented arrivals of asylum seekers in Europe in 2015. The largest increases went to humanitarian assistance, which increased by 37% between 2015 (US$1.7 billion) and 2016 (US$2.4 billion) and which is now the largest sector for the EU’s bilateral ODA. Agriculture also received a significant increase, growing by 58% from US$1.1 billion in 2015 to US$1.7 billion in 2016; agriculture was the fourth-largest sector in 2016, receiving 9% of EU bilateral ODA. Infrastructure also saw strong increases (+29%): while in 2015, US$1.7 billion was allocated to infrastructure; in 2016 it was at US$2.2 billion. A further priority sector in the EU’s ODA is financial services and business support (11% in 2016, or US$2.1 billion), in line with the EU’s focus on economic development; this sector, however, saw a 5% decrease in funding compared to 2015.

Implications of the 'refugee crisis'

The ‘refugee crisis’ has had a major impact on the EU’s external action and development policy. In response to the unprecedented levels of asylum seekers arriving in Europe in 2015, the EU increased ODA to partner countries. Most of the increases in 2016 have been channeled as humanitarian aid to fragile areas and within the EU. The EU budget has seen increased funding since 2015 to respond to the increased migratory challenges, reaching a total of US$24.3 billion (€22 billion) for the period between 2015 and 2018. This includes actions within the EU (US$10.6 billion) and actions outside the EU, including the protection of the EU’s external borders (US$13.7 billion, though only some of this is counted as ODA). The latter includes the establishment of the ‘Emergency Trust Fund for Africa’ (to which the Commission has contributed US$3.3 billion as of March 2018) and the ‘EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis’ (to which the Commission has contributed US$1.4 billion as of February 2018), both targeted at tackling the root causes of migration abroad.

Implications of ‘Brexit’ on the EU’s ODA

In June 2016, the British population voted in favor of the United Kingdom (UK) exiting the EU. While details on how this decision will affect EU development policy remain unclear, Brexit could impact the EU’s development policy in the following ways:

• Reduce financial resources for development programs: The UK contributes around US$1.8 billion per year (2014-2016 average) to EU development programs through the EU’s general budget and the EDF; these may see cuts.
• Create a leadership gap: The UK has been a strong supporter of value for money, evidence-based policy, and a strong results agenda within EU development policy, placing emphasis on multilateral development assistance. It also provides significantly more development assistance for health than any other EU member state.
• Reduce the focus on poorest countries: The UK has advocated for a stronger focus on low- income countries and fragile states within the EU’s development assistance programs.

Further readings

Government sources

• DG DEVCO; EU Communication on the Agenda for Change; 2011 
• DG DEVCO; European Consensus on Development; 2017 
• European Commission; Fact sheet: European Commission recommends draft negotiating directives for a modernised Partnership with countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific; 2017 
• European Commission; Press release: EU Official Development Assistance reaches highest level ever; 2017 

Other official sources

• OECD DAC; Peer review, EU Institutions; 2012

The Council and European Parliament decide on strategy and budget; European Commission develops policies and programs jointly with European External Action Service

The European Council, currently chaired by President Donald Tusk and composed of all EU heads of state and government, meets regularly to set high-level political and budgetary priorities for the EU.

The Council of the European Union (Council; not to be confused with the European Council above) includes ministers of EU member states, who coordinate member states’ policies to define strategic priorities for the EU. The Council meets in different configurations, depending on the issue at stake. For development cooperation, the most relevant configuration is the Foreign Affairs Council. It includes ministers of foreign affairs and/or development from all member states, who vote on legislative acts, coordinate policies, and decide on the annual budget, usually in co-decision-making with the European Parliament.

The Council’s meeting agendas are set by the member state which has the presidency for six months; Bulgaria holds the presidency from January until June 2018, to be followed by Austria between July and December 2018. The Foreign Affairs Council meets once a month. Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council are chaired by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, currently Federica Mogherini. She is assisted by the European External Action Service (EEAS) to coordinate the EU’s foreign policy instruments, including development assistance and humanitarian aid.

Along with the Council, the European Parliament decides on the annual EU budget, which includes the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI). The Parliament has an exclusively advisory role vis-a-vis the European Development Fund (EDF), as the EDF is not included within the EU’s general budget. The European Commission (Commission) has proposed that the EDF be ‘budgetized’ in the future multiannual programming period (MFF 2021-2027), and there seems to be significant support among the EU institutions for the increased efficiency, coherence, and coordination this may provide. The Parliament also scrutinizes the Commission during policy and program implementation.

Within the Commission, the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation – EuropeAid (DG DEVCO) is responsible for the formulation and implementation of the EU’s development policy. DG DEVCO manages the EU’s main external financing instruments, including the DCI and EDF. Other Directorates-General involved in ODA allocation include the Directorate-General Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (DG ECHO) and Directorate-General Research and Innovation. In her role as High Representative and Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini coordinates the Commissioners’ Group on External Action with the view to develop a joint approach to EU global activities. The EEAS is the diplomatic service of the EU. EU country offices (called delegations) are part of the EEAS structure and are responsible for the programming of development funding, together with the Commission, which is responsible for management and implementation.

The EDF is an extra-budgetary instrument that funds development activities in African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. Its programming and implementation structure is different from the instruments that are financed from the EU’s budget (e.g., the DCI). The EDF is financed by direct contributions from the EU member states according to a contribution key. The current EDF (11^th) was adopted for the entire 2014-2020 period. Most of the funding has already been allocated, but its accounts are reviewed every year, and adjustments are made (see question four: ‘How is the ODA budget structured?’). The EDF is established within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement, which defines EU-ACP relations and priorities. Management of the EDF is delegated to DG DEVCO and EEAS, which take the lead on allocating funds to the specific countries and regions. A Joint Council of Ministers of ACP and EU countries approves budget allocations and strategic priorities. Regarding implementation, each ACP country appoints a National Authorizing Officer who, together with the EU delegation, is responsible for all program-related matters.

Further readings

Government sources

• DG DEVCO; DEVCO website on European Development Policy; 2018 
• EEAS; EEAS website on Working with other EU institutions; 2016 
• European Council; Foreign Affairs Council; 2018 

EU ODA comes from the EU budget and the EDF

The EU’s ODA comes from two main sources: the European Development Fund (EDF; €30.5 billion, or US$33.7 billion, for 2014 to 2020) and the EU’s general budget’s Heading 4, ‘Global Europe’, which includes various external funding instruments (in total US$57.4 billion or €51.9 billion). Within the heading, the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) is the funding source that places the strongest focus on developing countries; therefore, the section focuses on this funding source, together with the EDF. The EDF and DCI together account for 61% of the EU’s ODA (US$55.5 billion, between 2014 and 2020).

The EU budget's Heading 4 is part of the multiannual financial framework (MFF), which sets political priorities and provides a framework for financial programming from 2014 to 2020. The heading ‘Global Europe’ includes the following external funding instruments:

• The Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI, see above) (€19.6 billion, or US$21.7 billion, for 2014 to 2020), whose prime objective is the reduction of poverty
• The European Neighborhood Instrument (ENI) (€15.4 billion, or US$17 billion, for 2014 to 2020) is accessible to the EU’s neighbor countries only and is focused on promoting human rights, supporting the transition towards the market economy, and promoting sustainable development and policies of common interest 
• The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) (€11.7 billion, or US$12.9 billion, for 2014 to 2020) is restricted to EU accession candidates and focuses on capacity-building, aiming to prepare EU candidates for the rights and obligations of EU membership
• Smaller instruments such as the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

The DCI accounts for 38% of Heading 4 ‘Global Europe’. 5% of its total funding between 2014 and 2020 (US$1.1 billion) is kept as a reserve. The DCI covers country program support to EU partner countries in Asia and Latin America, as well as ‘thematic programs’ that are open to all developing countries. The ‘Global Public Goods and Challenges’ (GPGC) program comprises US$5.6 billion for the period 2014 to 2020, of which US$1.5 billion will be allocated to food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture, and at least US$1.1 billion to health. Within the GPGC, the Commission finances ‘EU flagship programmes’ that address global challenges through multi-sectoral or cross-cutting approaches. No concrete funding amounts are earmarked for these programs, given that the flagship initiatives are a programming tool rather than a funding delivery mechanism. Moreover, the DCI’s US$935 million ‘Pan-African Program’ will support the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) under the Joint Africa-EU Strategy; however, the exact amount is not yet known.

The EDF is outside of the EU’s general budget and is financed by direct contributions from EU member states. The EDF is the largest funding instrument. It provides assistance to the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP countries) and focuses on low-income countries (LICs). The largest contributors to the EDF are Germany (21% in 2016), France (20%), the United Kingdom (15%), and Italy (13%). The EDF includes country and regional programs (US$27 billion for 2014 to 2020), as well as intra-ACP funds (US$3.9 billion for 2014 to 2020) that finance cooperation among ACP states. An estimated US$4.1 billion of the EDF is kept as unallocated reserves to fund responses to ‘unforeseen needs’. For example, US$1.7 billion has been sourced from EDF reserves to fund the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, a funding facility set up in November 2015 to tackle root causes of migration in different African regions. Reserves include a total of US$3.8 billion from country programs and US$561 million from intra-ACP funds.

The Commission is set to present a proposal for the priorities and budget of the next MFF for 2021-2027 by May 2018. Until then, the EU member states must decide how much they will commit to the next EU budget and how much will be dedicated to ODA.

Further readings

Government sources

• DG DEVCO; DEVCO website on European Development Policy; 2018 
• European Parliament; European Development Fund; 2014 

The Commission develops the draft budget in April-May; budget is finalized by November

The European Development Fund (EDF) is approved for five-to seven-year periods; its budget is not renewed every year, however, accounts are reviewed each year by the European Commission and adjustments can be made. The European Union’s general budget is negotiated and approved annually. However, the annual budget process takes place within the political priorities and financial programming set in the multiannual financial framework (MFF). The MFF is the EU’s ‘long-term spending plan’: it states expenditure ceilings for a period of at least five years. The current MFF covers seven years, from 2014 to 2020. The annual budget can only be adopted within the spending limits set in the MFF. The following points outline the steps in EU’s annual budget process:

• The European Commission presents its draft budget: By June 30, the European Commission presents its annual draft budget to the European Council (Council) and the European Parliament (Parliament). This budget is developed in a closed process, without consultation from external stakeholders, and in accordance with MFF’s spending ceilings. The annual draft budget includes country and thematic programs within the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI).  
• Council and Parliament prepare positions on draft budget: Once the Commission has presented its draft budget, the Council prepares its position on it between July and September and proposes amendments. The Council forwards its position to the European Parliament by mid-September. However, the committees of the Parliament already start holding internal discussions on the draft budget between July and September. This includes the Committee on Development (DEVE), which delivers its opinion along with proposed budgetary amendments on funding to DCI country and thematic programs, and the Budget Committee (BUDG). This period is thus a key opportunity for engaging with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on the relevant committees around budget allocations to the DCI.
• Parliament votes on amendments to Council’s position: Once Parliament has received the Council’s position, it has 42 days to approve or amend it. BUDG prepares the Parliament’s position, based on the previous inputs from the thematic committees. Usually in late October, the Parliament votes in plenary on the Council’s position, including the proposed amendments.
• Conciliation procedure between Parliament and Council: Parliament forwards the amended text to the Council. If the Council approves all amendments, the budget is considered adopted. If not, a conciliation committee – consisting of an equal number of Council and Parliament representatives – is convened to reach an agreement. The Conciliation Committee has 21 days to find a compromise, after which the Parliament and Council must adopt the agreed budget.

The EU disburses nearly all its ODA bilaterally

The EU reports virtually all its ODA as bilateral ODA (99% in 2016). However, this does not mean that European institutions do not provide support to other multilateral organizations: they often do so through funding that is earmarked for specific thematic or geographic priorities and is thus reported as bilateral ODA. In 2016, the EU channeled 19% of its bilateral ODA, or US$3.5 billion, to multilateral organizations. A large share of EU contributions to UN agencies is reported as bilateral ODA, for example, UNICEF (US$372 million in 2016) and the UNDP (US$301 million). Other multilateral organizations receiving ODA from the EU include the World Food Programme (US$451 million) and regional development banks (US$304 million). Earmarked multilateral funding strongly decreased between 2014 and 2015, which is explained by changed reporting procedures regarding loans provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB): in 2013 and 2014, loans were reported as ‘earmarked funding’ but were moved to the ‘bilateral ODA’ category in 2015.

Grant disbursements made up 72% of bilateral ODA of the EU in 2016. One of the Commission’s key instruments for the delivery of grants is ‘budget support’. In 2016, budget support accounted for 11% of bilateral ODA (US$2.1 billion), a much higher share than the 1.5% average amongst the members of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

Despite the vast majority of the EU’s ODA being provided as grants, the share of loans and equity investments in the EU’s ODA (28% in 2016) is much higher than the averages amongst DAC donors (9%) and has increased significantly in past years as the EU started to report unsubsidized loans by the EIB as ODA as of 2011. In 2017, however, the EU decreased the amount of loans it disbursed, which led to a decline in overall ODA levels. The EIB provides finance for investment projects, with almost 90% supporting activities within Europe; however, some loans also support the EU’s development policy. EIB loans to ODA recipient countries focus almost exclusively on middle-income countries (MICs): in 2016, they received 81% of EIB’s total volume of loans to ODA-recipient countries. Only 8% went to low-income countries (LICs). A change in OECD reporting rules for ODA loans may considerably decrease the amount of loans reported as ODA by the EU; from 2018 onwards only the grant element of loans will be counted as ODA, while currently the full face value of loans is counted as ODA.

Under the framework of the European External Investment Plan (EIP), set up in September 2016 by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the Commission set up a European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) endorsed with €3.35 billion (US$3.7 billion). This fund is intended to scale up investment in the European neighborhood and Africa through setting up investment windows on a range of social and economic development issues. The EIP also includes technical assistance to support local authorities and companies in developing projects.

Who are the ODA recipients?

Large shares of ODA go to European neighborhood and accession countries

Due to the large share of ODA funding delivered to neighboring countries through the European Neighborhood Instrument (ENI) and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) (see question four: ‘How is the EU’s ODA budget structured?’), a large share of the EU’s ODA goes to MICs. They received 58% of the EU’s bilateral ODA between 2014 and 2016 (DAC average: 33%). Low-income countries (LICs) were allocated 25%. Top recipients, based on a 2014-2016 average of OECD data, are Turkey, Morocco, Serbia, and Tunisia. ODA is increasingly being channeled to conflict-affected countries as humanitarian aid and specifically through the Trust Funds set up for Syria or for Africa (see question two: ‘What are the EU’s strategic priorities for development?’).

As the European Development Fund (EDF) and the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) have the strongest focus on developing countries and poverty alleviation, this section analyzes the recipients of these two funding instruments in more detail.

• EDF: The EDF focuses on providing development assistance to countries of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP): of those 79 countries, 48 are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Subsequently, the majority of EDF funding is allocated to countries in the region (82% of total EDF funding in 2015, which is the latest year for which data is available). Funding is also directed towards LICs: nine of the top 10 recipient countries of the EDF in 2015 belong to this category. 
• DCI: When considering both geographic and thematic programs of the DCI, countries in South, Central and Far East Asia receive the largest share (40% of total funding in 2015, which is the latest year for which data is available). DCI’s geographic programs focus on South and Far-East Asia as well as Latin America. The thematic fund, however, is more focused on sub-Saharan Africa, as 27% of the funds in 2015 were allocated to countries in this region. The DCI focuses rather heavily on MICs: with the exception of Afghanistan, all top 10 recipients belonged to this category in 2015.

Under the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014 to 2020, the EU sought to close 16 bilateral programs with MICs in Asia and Latin America, with the aim of increasing funding to LICs. Along with other OECD donors, the EU is committed to spending 0.15-0.2% ODA/GNI in less developed countries. However, EU ODA for LICs has not increased (24% of bilateral ODA went to LICs in 2016, down from 26% in 2014).

How is bilateral funding programmed?

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) are jointly responsible for approving the EU’s seven-year strategy with partner countries regarding EDF and DCI allocations. These documents, referred to as ‘multi-annual programs’ within the DCI and ‘national/regional indicative programs’ within the EDF, are developed by EU delegations in the partner countries on the basis of pre-existing national development plans or strategies and with instructions from DG DEVCO and EEAS. They define priority sectors of bilateral cooperation between the EU and the partner country and state indicative amounts allocated to each sector. The agreements established with each partner country within the EDF also specify the contribution key for each EU member state; the final country agreements therefore also need to be ratified by each EU member state (by and large, the member states follow the shares as proposed by the Commission).

On a yearly basis, DG DEVCO and EU delegations jointly prepare Annual Action Programs (AAPs) that set budget allocations and goals for each country and for the DCI’s thematic programs. AAPs are usually adopted by the Commission leadership during the summer following agreement over the budget. DG DEVCO may also adopt ‘addendums’ to the AAPs towards the end of the year for additional financing of programs.

The decision-making process on ‘flagship programmes’ (see question four: ‘How is the EU’s ODA budget structured?’) is opaque, nor is the exact contribution of the Global Public Goods and Challenges (GPGC) budget to each ‘flagship programme’ clear. A 2015 study by the NGO consortium CONCORD Europe found that many of the flagship initiatives are not in fact new programs but rather use new knowledge and “lessons learned” to improve and build on existing ones.

Further readings

Government sources

• DG DEVCO; DEVCO Annual Report 2016; 2017 

Civil society sources

• CONCORD; EU Funding Delivery Mechanisms; 2015