Brussels, 12/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 11 December, the financial instrument for development and cooperation (DCI) for 2014-2020 - one of the most important of the EU's external aid instruments - was approved by the European Parliament by a very large majority (639 votes to 27 against, with 24 abstentions). The DCI's main objective remains the eradication of poverty.
Allocated €19.662 billion (at current prices) over seven years, the DCI will focus on human development - especially health and education - and sustainable development. Basic social services will be allocated 20% of the funding, and 25% of the new thematic programme for public goods and global challenges will be allocated to human development and social inclusion (with at least 40% of this for health, at least 17.5% for education, and at least 27.5% for other matters - such as gender equality, the involvement of women, the protection of women's and girls' rights; children and youth, non-discrimination; employment, training, social protection and social inclusion; growth, employment, the involvement of the private sector, culture - 29% for food security and agriculture, and 7% for migration and asylum).
As well as the geographic programmes (Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and South Africa), and the thematic programmes divided into two parts (one on public goods and global challenges, the other on civil society organisations and local authorities), the new DCI regulation includes a new Africa-wide programme to support the strategic partnership between the EU and Africa via the financing of cross-regional, continental or global activity. (AN/transl.fl)