On Monday 26 May, the European ministers responsible for development will meet for an EU Ministerial Council devoted to the financing of development, relations between the EU and Africa and ways of ensuring coordinated support for Ukraine from ‘Team Europe’. In addition, a working lunch will provide political guidance for the preparation of the EU’s next long-term budget (2028-2034) and the development of a dedicated envelope for external action.
The ministers will prepare the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held from 30 June to 3 July in Seville (Spain), which will focus on emerging issues, the urgent implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the reform of the international financial system, in an international context marked by the suspension of US foreign aid (see EUROPE 13644/31, 13617/5).
The EU Council will also examine relations between the EU and Africa following the third EU-African Union ministerial meeting, which took place on Wednesday 21 May in Brussels in the presence of almost 70 diplomatic delegations (see EUROPE 13645/19).
The European ministers will take advantage of this Council to take stock of the situation in Ukraine and discuss ways of stepping up support coordinated by ‘Team Europe’, which brings together the EU, its Member States, the European Investment Bank and private donors.
Finally, the ministers will be informed of the results of the ‘Nutrition for Growth’ Summit held in Paris in March, and of proposals on the role of SMEs in the ‘Global Gateway’ strategy. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)