European Commission - Directorate General for Development (EC - DG DEV)

Centre de documentation/information, SC-15 00/70, 15 rue de la Science, 1040 Bruxelles, Belgium

Phone : + 32 22992143 / Fax : + 32 22964926

Web site : ec.europa.eu/development/

Directorate General Development and Relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific States is responsible for the Commission’s input to EU external relations with more than half of the countries of the world. Furthermore, it sets Commission development policy and federates European development policy across the globe. As such it also aims to demonstrate the added value of Europe working together to tackle the major challenges facing the world. Our mission is also to help to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty in the developing countries through the promotion of sustainable development, democracy, peace and security.

DG Development initiates and drafts development policy as set out in the EU Treaty. It promotes a European approach to development across the EU countries to influence international debate and work more effectively to combat poverty.

The DG coordinates political relations with sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), the African Union, regional economic communities, and the overseas countries and territories in all the areas for which it is responsible, based on the Cotonou agreement and strategies relating to those countries.

In this context, DG Development drafts cooperation strategies with ACP countries and the overseas countries and territories, and coordinates and monitors funding provided through the European Development Funds and the Development Cooperation Instrument.