Directorate-General for International Partnerships

The official development assistance (ODA) disbursed by the European Commission increased in 2022 (USD 23.1 billion), mostly due to support to Ukraine, some of which was in the form of loans.

[8] Effective implementation and delivery of aid also helps the Commission and the EU as a whole to attain a higher profile on the world stage.

The main intervention areas covered are: trade and regional integration, environment and the sustainable management of natural resources, infrastructure, communications and transport, water and energy, rural development, governance, democracy and human rights, peace and security, human development, social cohesion and employment.

It translates policies into practical actions and develops new ways of delivering aid, such as budget support[14] and through sectoral approaches.

[18] Directorate-General is responsible for all the steps of an aid delivery project:[19] after identifying needs, it carries out feasibility studies and prepares all the necessary financial decisions and controls.

To ensure coherence, complementarity and coordination in implementing external assistance programmes worldwide, DG INTPA works in close collaboration with its various partners.

[23] Civil society, international organisations and governments of member states of the European Union are all important actors in this field.

Directorate-General awards grants and contracts to implement projects or activities that relate to the European Union's external aid programmes.

To ensure that EuropeAid's work to improve people's lives is recognised, a set of visibility guidelines[24] have been produced.