Principles and objectives
In this section:
The legal basis of EU external aid is set out in the Treaty on the European Union. In particular, Article 177 of the Treaty establishing the European Union sets out the objectives of external assistance. It states that Union development assistance should foster:
- the sustainable economic and social development of the developing countries, and more particularly the most disadvantaged among them;
- the smooth and gradual integration of the developing countries into the world economy;
- the campaign against poverty in the developing countries.
The Article also states that: “Union policy in this area shall contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law, and to the objective of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Chapter IV, Section I - Development Cooperation - Article III-316 of the draft EU Constitution (ex Art. 177 of the TEC) states that “Union policy in the field of development cooperation shall be conducted within the framework of the principles and objectives of the Union's external action. The Union's development cooperation policy and that of the Member States shall complement and reinforce each other. Union development co-operation policy shall have as its primary objective the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication of poverty. The Union shall take account of the objectives of development co-operation in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries.”
EU external assistance is based on these basic principles, and guided by the principles which inspired its own creation: development and enlargement.
In this section you can find information on the EU development policy and priorities, funding and programming strategies.
Sources and useful links:
- Treaty on European Union and Treaties establishing the European Union, Title XX - Art. 177.
- Draft EU Constitution, Art. III-316.