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EU Support

There are two main legal instruments of the European Union for development co-operation. The European Development Fund (EDF) is the main instrument for providing EU aid for development cooperation in the ACP countries.

Alongside it, there is the Financing Instrument for Development Co-operation – the DCI. This provides for a mix of geographic programmes – which apply to co-operation between Europe and Latin America, Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and South Africa - and a set of “thematic” programmes.

These Thematic Programmes cover issues such as investing in people, the environment and sustainable management of natural resources, food security, and migration and asylum.

But the most important Thematic Programme for local authorities involved in twinning and partnership for development is on Non-State Actors and Local Authorities.

The EuropeAid website provides details of the Programme, including the Annual Action Programmes and relevant calls for proposals.

The Programme has three objectives.

First, to promote an inclusive and empowered society in partner countries to facilitate non-state actors and local authorities participation in poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies

Second, to raise public awareness of development issues (including the MDGs) and promote education for development in the EU and acceding countries

Third, to support activities to strengthen coordination and communication activities of non-state actors and local authority networks in the EU and acceding countries.

The programme’s budget for the four years 2007 – 2010 is around Euro 900 million. Of this, up to 15% is available to local authorities, i.e. about Euro 35 million per year.

The large majority of the budget is provided for activities under Objective 1, which is itself divided into two parts. The first part is for actions taking place within a single country (the list of such countries can change from year to year), and these actions are managed by the European Commission’s Delegations in the relevant country. A second part of the budget for Objective 1 is earmarked for global and multi-country initiatives, and these actions are managed by EuropeAid directly. EuropeAid is also responsible for actions under Objectives 2 and 3.

In addition to the above, there are other programmes for supporting city to city co-operation or partnerships, such as Urb-AL for projects between European and Latin American cities, and the Ciudad programme - under the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument - for the promotion of co-operation between local actors from partner countries and from the EU.

For all of these programmes, there are specific deadlines for submissions which need to be followed. Details can be found on the respective EU websites.