At the Development Council in Brussels on Tuesday 7 May, the Council of the EU approved conclusions on the 2023 annual report on the implementation of the European Union’s external action instruments in 2022, recognising the efforts made in terms of international partnerships in the face of geopolitical challenges such as the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, the Covid-19 pandemic and the climate crisis.
The EU Council invited the European Commission to continue developing actions to combat climate change and protect biodiversity “in order to achieve the agreed objectives”.
The report also highlights the EU’s substantial support for Ukraine and neighbouring regions affected by the conflict, with a broader emphasis on the need for an integrated and coherent EU response to external crises and conflicts, including achieving this through the EU’s external action instruments.
“Conflict prevention through timely analysis and early action, support for mediation and peace dialogues, building peace and resilience, and establishing international and regional partnerships in the field of peace, security and defence are all key aspects in this regard”, emphasised the EU Council.
The EU and its Member States are collectively the second largest donor of humanitarian aid, providing €92.1 billion in 2022, which represents 42% of global official development assistance (ODA).
To see the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/c4f (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)