The amount of financial contributions to be paid by Member States to the European Development Fund (EDF), which finances development cooperation with ACP (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) countries, was approved by the EU Council on Monday 12 November. The decision was adopted without discussion on the margins of the General Affairs Council meeting to enter into force immediately (see EUROPE 12133).
The annual contribution ceiling for 2020 is set at 4.9 billion euros (4.6 billion euros for the Commission and 300 million euros for the EIB). The annual contribution of the Member States for the 2019 financial year is set at 4.7 billion euros (4.4 billion euros for the Commission and 300 million euros for the EIB).
The individual contributions to be paid by the Member States to the Commission and the EIB as the first instalment for the 2019 financial year (to be paid before 1 January 2019) shall be based on the distribution key between the Member States.
The Council also drew up indicative forecasts of the annual amount of contributions expected for the years 2021 (4 billion for the Commission and 300 million for the EIB) and 2022 (3.5 billion for the Commission and 400 million for the EIB). The EDF is a financial instrument outside the EU budget until 2020. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)