Our policy areas

The EU addresses global challenges through international partnerships that uphold and promote European values and interests, and contribute to peace and prosperity in the world.

Countries and regions

The EU defines specific policy areas and objectives with each partner country and each region.

Programming

The EU defines its medium and long-term international cooperation priorities through the programming process.

Funding opportunities

The EU provides funding in the form of grants to support projects and organisations in achieving their development objectives.

Funding instruments

The EU is the largest development cooperation donor in the world. We provide funding in many different fields and through different methods depending on the needs and objectives of our partner countries.

Latest news

Press release
29 September 2022

Human rights: EU increases support to the protection of human rights defenders worldwide

Reconfirming the European Union's strong support to human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, and their defenders worldwide, Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen today signed €30 million, a substantial increase, for the new phase of the EU Human Rights Defenders Mechanism.

Press release
28 September 2022

Global Gateway: European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development deepen their partnership to boost private sector investment

Today, Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, and Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), signed a new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) between the European Commission and the EBRD to boost investment in su

Press release
27 September 2022

Scaling up sustainable finance in low and middle-income countries: High-Level Expert Group kick-starts work

The High-Level Expert Group meets in Brussels today for the first time kick-starting their reflection on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable finance in partner countries with a view to providing recommendations to the Commission on how to scale up funding from the private sector.

More news

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Stand with Ukraine

The EU stands united in its solidarity with Ukraine and will continue to support Ukraine and its people together with its international partners, including through additional political, financial and humanitarian support.

Africa-EU Partnership

The EU’s relationship with Africa is a key priority for the European Commission. Our vision of the future Africa-EU partnership is to work together on global trends.

EU global response to COVID-19

The European Union and its Member States, acting together as ‘Team Europe’, are taking comprehensive and decisive action to tackle the destructive impact of COVID-19.