On Friday 18 December, Member States’ ambassadors to the EU endorsed the political agreement reached three days earlier between the European Parliament and the EU Council on the single financial instrument for neighbourhood, development and international cooperation (NDICI) in the EU’s 2021–2027 budget.
The NDICI will benefit from EUR 79.462 billion in current prices for 2021–2027. The distribution of funds on a regional and thematic basis follows the guidelines of the July European Council (see EUROPE 12565/14).
“The NDICI will become the EU’s primary financial tool for achieving our principle foreign policy objectives for the next decade, whether promoting sustainable development, combatting climate change, defending a rules-based order, or promoting peace and stability in our neighbourhood and worldwide”, said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
The geographical envelope (EUR 60.388 billion) will cover partnerships with the European neighbourhood, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Americas and the Caribbean.
Cooperation shall focus on good governance, inclusive growth, climate and environmental objectives, eradication of poverty, the fight against inequality, resilience, conflict prevention and human development.
In addition, countries of the European neighbourhood will benefit from increased political cooperation and support to strengthen regional cooperation and promote integration into the EU internal market.
The thematic programmes (EUR 6.358 billion) will focus on human rights and democracy, civil society, stability and peace, as well as on global challenges such as health, education and training, women and children, labour, social protection, culture, migration and climate change.
The ‘Rapid Reaction’ Component (EUR 3.182 billion) will finance the rapid reaction capability for crisis management, conflict prevention and peace building.
The reserve for new challenges and priorities will be EUR 9.534 billion. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)