Global Europe: the European Union sets out priority areas for cooperation with partner countries and regions around the world

The Commission has adopted the Multiannual Indicative Programmes (MIPs) of Global Europe setting out priority areas for cooperation with partner countries and regions around the world for 2021-27. This also includes the financial allocation for 2021-2024 (country level) and for 2021-2027 (regional level) that will support this cooperation for a total of almost €26.3 billion. The adoption of the country and regional MIPs will significantly contribute to climate actions, social inclusion and human development and migration and forced displacement and to achieve gender and biodiversity targets.

High Representative/Vice-President, Josep Borrell, said: “We need to match our words with actions. The investments under the Global Europe programme will ensure that the EU delivers on its political priorities and effectively addresses the needs of our partner countries and regions, ranging from sustainable peace, security and stability to global challenges, such as tackling COVID-19 and the fight against climate change. The EU remains the world’s largest donor of development and humanitarian aid and we will continue to stand up for a fairer and more prosperous future around the world.” 

Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, said: “The European Union has a long history of cooperation based on shared objectives and values. With the programming of our cooperation for 2021-2027, we commit for another seven years to fight inequalities and support inclusive, green and sustainable development. Many of the agreed priorities will support the effective implementation of the Global Gateway strategy, levering key resources for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet, while tackling the most pressing global challenges. I am particularly proud that programmes related to education should be allocated €6 billion over 2021-2027, an increase from 7 to 13% of total expenditures of our external action outside our neighbourhood. Children and youth should be given a real chance to reach their full potential and have a better future.”

A Team Europe that delivers

The priorities have been defined in consultation with the relevant partners’ authorities and a real Team Europe approach, together with EU Member States, the European financial institutions, EIB and EBRD, as well as the European Parliament. Consultations were also held with Civil Society Organisations, including women and youth organisations, local authorities, representatives from the private sector, the UN and other like-minded partners. The agreed priorities are in line with UN’s 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy.

Several projects in partner countries will be taken forward in the framework of Team Europe Initiatives that will receive substantial financial support, many of which will help deliver on the implementation of the Global Gateway. These initiatives will have to be jointly agreed upon, designed, implemented and monitored in a Team Europe approach.

Programming outcome – Facts and Figures

Programming documents for countries and regions adopted represent an amount of €26.336 billion:

A mid-term review to be completed in 2024 will support the Commission’s decision on country allocations for 2025-27.

For Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific and the Americas and the Caribbean countries and regions, the MIPs will deliver on the overarching EU policy objectives:

• Green deal features in all MIPs
• Digital agenda features in over 80% of the MIPs
• Sustainable growth and decent jobs features in around 70%
• Migration is covered by more than half
• Governance, peace and security features in nearly 90%
• Social inclusion and human development covered in more than 90%; in particular education is addressed in 80% of MIPs
• Gender is well mainstreamed in all MIPs

All the country and regional programming documents will be complemented by four thematic programmes already adopted: Human Rights and Democracy (€1.5 billion) Civil Society Organisations (€1.5 billion); Peace, Stability and Conflict prevention (€871 million) and Global Challenges (€3.6 billion). Finally, the ERASMUS+ MIP was adopted earlier this year and will benefit from the financing coming from the non-neighbourhood geographic envelopes with an amount of €1.79 billion.

Background

The Global Europe programming, officially launched in November 2020, addresses the overarching Commission priorities, promotes the post-COVID-19 green, digital, inclusive and sustainable recovery and fully respects the commitments contained in the new instrument, particularly on climate action, social inclusion and human development, migration and forced displacement, and gender equality.

The country and regional Multiannual Indicative Programmes are adopted by the Commission after consultation with the partner country/regional organisations, EU Member States and all relevant stakeholders. These documents establish the main priority areas for cooperation, specific objectives, expected results as well as the indicative allocations for the EU cooperation with partner countries and regions covered by Global Europe, i.e. the Neighbourhood, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and the Americas and the Caribbean. These Multiannual Indicative Programmes, therefore, constitute the long-term plans for the implementation of Global Europe in these countries and regions.