REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Annual Report on the implementation of the European Union's instruments for financing external actions in 2017
Date: 2019-01-31
Institutions: Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, EU migration policy, common foreign and security policy, conflict prevention, development aid, humanitarian aid, international cooperation, international security, peacekeeping, the EU's international role

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 31.1.2019 COM(2019) 37 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Annual Report on the implementation of the European Union's instruments for financing external actions in 2017 {SWD(2019) 12 final}  
 
 
GLOBAL COMMITMENTS 

The  European  Union  (EU)  promotes  a  joined-up  approach,  bringing  together  all  available 
instruments from the EU and its Member States to work towards a more peaceful and prosperous 
world. In 2017, Europe and the world continued to be confronted with significant challenges. The EU 
responded comprehensively, using the entire breadth of its policies and tools, spanning diplomatic, 
security,  financial,  trade,  development  actions,  and  humanitarian  aid.  Crisis  response  measures 
adopted  comprised  support  to  all  major  ongoing  crises  worldwide,  including  activities  in  the  ten 
‘least peaceful’ countries1. 

EU as a Stronger Global Actor 

During  2017,  full  implementation of  the EU Global  Strategy  (EUGS) on  foreign and  security  policy2 
started. The EUGS sets out EU core interests and principles for engagement and provides a vision for 
a more credible, responsible and responsive EU in the world.  

The  EU continued to tackle  existing high levels of vulnerability due to humanitarian crisis, drought 
and insecurity, funding operations for more than EUR 2.2 billion in over 90 countries outside the EU. 
The EU and its Member States remain the world's largest donor of humanitarian aid. 

The  EU  and  its  Member  States  are  the  largest  donor  of  Official  Development  Assistance  (ODA), 
providing more than half of ODA globally. In 2017, the European Commission alone disbursed EUR 
13.34 billion in ODA. 

Implementation  of  the  EUGS  in  security  and  defence  was  swift  and  substantial  with  work  on  a 
Coordinated  Annual  Review  on  Defence  (CARD)3,  the  establishment  of  the  Military  Planning  and 
Conduct Capability (MPCC)4, the implementation of the European Defence Action Plan and the EU-
NATO Joint Declaration, and the agreement on Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)5. 

The EUGS acknowledges the importance of an international system based on multilateralism. The EU 
and the United Nations (UN)  are indispensable partners to deliver  peace  and security. The  ground 
breaking joint trilateral African Union (AU)-EU-UN work on Libya and migration aims to pave the way 
for enhanced cooperation in the wider peace and security agenda. The support provided to the G5 
Sahel Joint Force also shows the importance of investing in global-regional security partnerships. 

European  Consensus  on  Development, 
Development 

implementing  the  2030  Agenda  for  Sustainable 

In June 2017, the new European Consensus on Development6 was signed in a Joint Statement by the 
Maltese Presidency, on behalf of the Council and Member States, the Parliament, the Commission 
and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The new Consensus 
is the EU's response to global trends and challenges in international cooperation and development 

1 Global Peace Index 2017, Institute for Economics and Peace 
2 https://europa.eu/globalstrategy/en/global-strategy-foreign-and-security-policy-european-union  
3 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-Homepage/36453/coordinated-annual-review-defence-
card_en  
4 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/27763/military-planning-and-conduct-
capability-mpcc_en  
5 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-Homepage/34226/permanent-structured-cooperation-
pesco-factsheet_en  
6 https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/policies/european-development-policy/european-consensus-
development_en  

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aligning EU external action to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs). 

Structured  around  the  '5  Ps'  framing  the  2030  Agenda  (People,  Planet,  Prosperity,  Peace  and 
Partnership),  the  Consensus  puts  forward  a  balanced  and  integrated  approach  to  the  economic, 
social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.  

External Investment Plan 

In  2017,  the  EU’s  ambitious  External  Investment  Plan  (EIP)7  started  implementation,  following  the 
entry into force of the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) regulation in September. 
With an input of EUR 4.1 billion (EUR 2.6 billion for blending and EUR 1.5 billion for guarantees) it 
aims to mobilise a total investment of EUR 44 billion in Africa and the EU Neighbourhood with five 
‘Investment  Windows’  covering:  Sustainable  Energy  and  Connectivity;  Micro,  Small  and  Medium 
Enterprises  (MSMEs)  Financing;  Sustainable  Agriculture,  Rural  Entrepreneurs  and  Agroindustry; 
Sustainable Cities; and Digital for Development.  

The adoption of the EIP represents a watershed moment for EU external action by catalysing private 
sector involvement to produce results in the context of wider global policy objectives. 

Working better with EU Member States 

The European Consensus on Development places Joint Programming at the centre of the EU’s effort 
to work better together with Member States to implement the 2030 Agenda. By bringing together 
resources  and  capacities,  Joint  Programming  increases  the  collective  impact  and  visibility  of 
European development cooperation and external action.  

In  May  2017,  an  independent  evaluation  of  EU  Joint  Programming  processes8  concluded  that  the 
exercise has increased coordination among the EU, Member States and other development partners, 
and enhanced the EU and Member States’ voice and leverage at country level.  

At  the  end  of  2017,  23  Joint  Programming  documents  existed,  of  which  seven  were  completed 
during the year. A Joint Programming process was ongoing in an additional 36 partner countries. 

Policy Coherence for Development  

Policy  Coherence  for  Development  (PCD)  requires  the  EU  to  take  account  of  development 
cooperation objectives in all policy implementations that are likely to affect developing countries.  

In  2017,  the  Commission  continued  promoting  PCD,  including  embedding  it  in  the  European 
Consensus on Development, and highlighted its important contribution to achieving the SDGs. 

7 https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/eu-external-investment-plan-factsheet_en  
8  https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/evaluation-eu-joint-programming-process-development-cooperation-2011-
2015_en  

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GLOBAL REACH 

Africa 

2017  was  an  important  year  for  the  Strategic  Partnership  with  Africa.  A  Joint  Communication  for 
renewed  impetus  of  the  Africa-EU  Partnership9  was  adopted  in  May,  followed  by  the  5th  African 
Union-EU Summit held in Abidjan in November. Preparations began for a new relationship with the 
countries  of  the  African,  Caribbean  and  Pacific  Group  of  States  (ACP)  to  deliver  a  ‘post-Cotonou’ 
partnership among equals that is modern, political and targeted.  

During  2017,  40  new  programmes  were  approved  in  the  three  regions  covered  by  the  European 
Union  Emergency  Trust  Fund  for  stability  and  addressing  root  causes  of  irregular  migration  and 
displaced persons in Africa (EUTF for Africa).  

Enlargement Region 

A  key  political  event  in  2017  was  President  Juncker’s  State  of  the  Union  address10,  which 
reconfirmed and strengthened the EU's unequivocal support for the enlargement perspective of the 
Western Balkans.  

European Neighbourhood 

In 2017, the  EU  continued to roll out  its revised European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) to achieve 
common  goals  of  stabilising  Neighbourhood  countries  and  developing  more  tailor-made 
partnerships.  Revised  Association  Agendas  were  concluded  with  Georgia  and  Moldova,  and  the 
Association  Agreement  with  Ukraine,  including  the  Deep  and  Comprehensive  Free  Trade  Area, 
entered  into  force.  Comprehensive  and  Enhanced  Cooperation  Agreement  was  concluded  and 
signed  with  Armenia.  The  Eastern  Partnership  Summit  in  November  provided  guidance  for  future 
regional cooperation based on the ‘20 deliverables for 2020’11. 

EU programmes continued to support the economic, social, cultural and political development of the 
countries of the Southern Neighbourhood, including those hosting refugees from Syria.  

Partnership priorities for 2017-2020 were agreed with Algeria and Egypt, while progress was made 
on identifying similar joint priorities with Armenia, Tunisia, Palestine, Azerbaijan and Belarus. 

A  Joint  Communication  on  developments  in  the  Neighbourhood  and  implementation  of  the  ENP 
review12 was adopted in May 2017. 

Asia, Central Asia and the Pacific 

Both  the  19th  EU-China  Summit  in  June  2017  and  the  EU-India  Summit  in  October  demonstrated 
shared  commitment  to  address  global  and  regional  issues  such  as  climate  change  and  security 
threats. The EU signed political agreements on wide ranging areas of cooperation with Australia and 
New Zealand during 2017. 

The EU was intensely engaged to address the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh and Myanmar 
and  stepped  up  its  humanitarian  efforts,  co-hosting  the  UN  Pledging  Conference  in  October  and 
making the largest donor pledge. 

9 JOIN(2017) 17 final, 4.5.2017 
10 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-3165_en.htm  
11 https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/20_deliverables_for_2020.pdf  
12 JOIN(2017) 18 final, 18.5.2017 

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Latin America and the Caribbean 

2017 saw progress in negotiations with the South American trade bloc MERCOSUR on a bi-regional 
Association  Agreement  and  the  provisional  application  of  the  Political  Dialogue  and  Cooperation 
Agreement with Cuba in November. At the beginning of the year, the Multi-Party Trade Agreement 
with Ecuador entered into force. 

In 2017, the EU looked to move the focus of its cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean to 
a more diversified model giving a prominent role to investment, research and innovation, education 
and the digital agenda. 

PEOPLE 

Human development 

Eradicating  poverty  (SDG  1),  tackling  inequalities  and  discrimination  (SDG  10)  and  leaving  no-one 
behind are at the heart of EU development policy.  

Contributions to global initiatives, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 
(GFATM),  the  Vaccine  Alliance  (GAVI),  the  Global  Partnership  for  Education  (GPE),  and  Education 
cannot Wait, ensured the EU played a significant role in shaping the international policy agenda in 
health  (SDG  3)  and  education  (SDG  4).  These  initiatives  have  helped  11  million  people  with  life-
saving HIV-treatment, treated 17.4 million cases of tuberculosis and distributed 795 million bed nets 
to  prevent  malaria.  Through  EU  support  to  the  GPE,  in  2015,  72  million  more  children  were  in 
primary school in partner countries compared to 2002.  

Through  the  Erasmus+  programme,  the  EU  helped  partner  countries  to  enhance  employability  of 
individuals. In 2017, over 40 500 individual mobility grants were awarded to students and staff, more 
than  half  of  which  benefited  Neighbourhood  and  Enlargement  countries.  In  addition,  some  350 
international participations in Horizon 2020 collaborative projects were supported with around EUR 
40 million of EU funding. 

Renewed  emphasis  was  placed  on  the  cultural  dimension  of  development  and  international 
cooperation  following  the  adoption  of  the  Council  conclusions  of  May  2017  on  an  ‘EU  Strategic 
Approach to International Cultural Relations’13.  

Gender equality and women’s empowerment 

The  EU  and  its  Member  States  continue  to  be  global  leaders  in  promoting  gender  equality  and 
women and girls' empowerment (SDG 5). The first report on the implementation of the EU Gender 
Action Plan 2016-202014 was published in 201715. 

13 Joint Communication "Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations", JOIN(2016) 29 final, 
8.6.2016; Council conclusions 9635/17. 
14 Joint SWD(2015)182 final, 21.09.2015 “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Transforming the 
Lives of Girls and Women through EU External Relations 2016-2020”, followed by Council conclusions 
13201/15, 26.10.2015 
15 https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10102/2017/EN/SWD-2017-288-F1-EN-MAIN-PART-1.PDF  

4 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
The  Commission  monitors  closely  developments  on  gender  equality  and  the  fight  against  gender-
based  violence  in  the  Enlargement  Region.  These  issues  are  also  addressed  during  accession 
negotiations  and  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Process  reported  in  the  2017  Enlargement 
package16. 

Spotlight on gender-based-violence 

2017 marked the launch of the Spotlight Initiative17, a new EU-UN partnership to eliminate all forms 
of violence against women and girls. This initiative, backed by EUR 500 million from the EU, aims to 
achieve  transformational  change  at  the  regional  level,  concentrating  efforts  in  Asia,  the  Pacific, 
Africa (particularly Sub-Saharan Africa), Latin America and the Caribbean.  

Migration, forced displacement and asylum 

Migration  and  mobility  remained  high  on  the  EU  agenda  with  the  focus  shifting  to  the  Central 
Mediterranean  route  as  the  main  challenge  and  Libya  remained  the  main  country  of  departure 
towards the EU. The Facility for Refugees in Turkey continued to address the needs of refugees and 
host communities in the country with the Commission committing EUR three billion in 2017. 

In  the  Western  Balkans,  the  EU  has  a  leading  role  in  bringing  together  responses  on  refugee  and 
migration related issues. 

Mixed Migration Management in Libya 

In  2017,  the  Commission  responded  quickly  to  the  recommendations  of  the  Joint  Communication 
‘Central  Mediterranean  Route  –  Managing  flows,  saving  lives18,’  published  in  January.  A  EUR  90 
million programme was rapidly developed to provide protection and assistance to those in need in 
Libya and support to stabilise host communities. 

Food and Nutrition Security 

Global  hunger,  food  and  nutrition  insecurity was  on the  rise  in 2017  with  an  additional  38 million 
people suffering from hunger. The 'Global Report on Food Crises'19 launched in March reported over 
108 million people in food crisis, and several hotspots at risk of famine. 

As a contribution to SDG 2, EU efforts resulted in targeted thematic and bilateral support, especially 
to address fragility and emergencies in a range of countries with EUR 140 million allocated in synergy 
with  EUR  750  million  to  help  avoid  famines  in  four  countries  considered  at  risk:  Somalia,  South 
Sudan, Yemen, and Nigeria. 

PLANET 

Climate change 

Climate change (SDG 13) continues to be a major threat affecting global sustainable development. In 
2017, the Caribbean region was struck by several intense hurricanes illustrating the impact of more 

16 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3342_en.htm  
17 https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sectors/human-rights-and-democratic-governance/gender-
equality/spotlight-initiative_en  
18 JOIN(2017) 4 final, 25.1.2017 
19 https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/global-report-food-crises-2017_en  

5 

 
 
 
                                                           
frequent  extreme  weather  events.  The  EU  supports  the  Global  Framework  for  Disaster  Risk 
Reduction  initiative  that  carried  out  Post-Disaster  Needs  Assessments  (PDNAs)  and  helped  deliver 
rapid support to the Caribbean after the hurricanes struck.  

Climate change adaptation is the top priority for most developing countries, in particular for Small 
Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the EU’s Global Climate 
Change Alliance (GCCA+) flagship initiative has continued to focus on them as priority beneficiaries.  

The EU also engaged with G20 countries to support the implementation of the National Determined 
Contributions made at the COP 21 summit. 

Environment and sustainable management of natural resources 

Natural capital, including productive land, water resources, forests, fish stocks and biodiversity are 
the backbone of many partner countries' economies and contribute enormously to livelihoods. The 
protection  and  sustainable  management  of  natural  capital  is  essential  to  the  achievement  of  the 
2030 Agenda (including SDGs 6, 12, 14 and 15).  

The EU engaged strongly at the 3rd session of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi in December 
under the theme ‘Towards a pollution-free planet’. The EU was also active in protecting oceans with 
participation at the UN Oceans Conference for the implementation of SDG 14 in June 2017 in New 
York and the organisation of the ‘Our Oceans’ Conference in Valletta in October. 

With the livelihood of 1.6 billion people dependent on forests, the EU is active in sustainable forest 
management.  Progress  has  been  made  in  implementing  the  EU  Action  Plan  on  Forest  Law 
Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)20. Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA) have been 
concluded  with  Honduras and  Guyana.  In  2017,  the EU  also  successfully  led  the  facilitation  of  the 
Congo Basin Forest Partnership. 

Environment and natural resources in the Neighbourhood 

Environment and sustainable management  of natural resources  is a priority in the  Neighbourhood 
South and East. While supporting initiatives including water resources management, depollution and 
transboundary  cooperation,  EU  action  has  shifted  towards  establishing  circular,  low-carbon  and 
resource efficient economies. 

Sustainable energy 

A Staff Working Document on 'Empowering Development'21 issued in December 2017, showed how 
cooperation on sustainable energy contributes to the implementation of the European Consensus on 
Development. The EU launched actions to ‘Energise Africa’22 in 2017.  

In  the  Eastern  Neighbourhood,  the  EU4Energy  project  supported  reforms  in  the  energy  sector.  At 
the Western Balkan summit in Trieste in July 2017, a connectivity package was approved with EUR 
194 million of EU grants leveraging investments of EUR 500 million for regional projects to improve 
transport and energy links. 

20 http://www.euflegt.efi.int/flegt-action-plan  
21 SWD(2017) 482 final, 15.12.2017 
22 https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/factsheet-5-energise-africa_en.pdf  

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Renewable energy in Africa 

At the end of 2017 Zambia, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria had allocated a total of EUR 85 million to 
the  Electrification  Financing  Initiative  (ElectriFI)  for  projects  to  provide  connection  to electricity  to 
452  000  new  households,  generate  an  additional  88  MW  of  new  renewable  energy,  and  reduce 
emissions by approximately 200 000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year. 

PROSPERITY 

Working with the private sector 

The  EU  implemented  a  new  Private  Sector  Engagement23  approach  to  achieve  sustainable  and 
inclusive development in 2017. The Sustainable Business for Africa (SB4A) platform concept, linked 
to  the  EIP,  can  create  a  forum  where  the  private  sector  can  identify  investment  constraints 
(contributing to SDG 8). 

The EU adopted a new Aid for Trade strategy in November 2017 ‘Achieving prosperity through trade 
and  investment’24  building  on  ten  years  of  EU  interventions.  It  puts  the  emphasis  on  supporting 
partner countries and their industries to transition to higher value-added products and services and 
to tap the potential of intra-regional trade as well as trade with the EU. 

Agricultural growth 

Two-thirds  of  the  world’s  poor  depend  on  agriculture  for  their  livelihoods  and  many  developing 
countries remain highly dependent on trade in just a few commodities.  

The EU supports land governance actions in about 40 countries with a total budget of almost EUR 
240 million. In Peru and Honduras, EU funded actions protect the land rights of indigenous peoples 
and secure basic assets for them (contributing to SDG 2). 

AgriFI boosts beans 

In  2017,  several  programmes  under  the  Agriculture  Financing  Initiative  (AgriFI)25  were  launched 
including  a  value  chain  analysis  of  the  green  bean  sector  in  Kenya,  which  showed  that  the 
investment supported the livelihoods of about 52 000 smallholder farmers.  

Infrastructures, cities and digitalisation 

Progress towards the 2030 Agenda requires building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and 
sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation (SDG9). 

The EU helped coordinate the Joint Africa-EU infrastructure agenda and engaged in the Board of the 
Africa  Transport  Policy  Programme  supporting  policy  and  strategy  for  African  Governments  and 
Regional Economic Communities. 

Rapid urbanisation, particularly  in Asia and Africa, poses major development challenges. 2017 saw 
the development of the International Urban Cooperation (IUC) programme26 that shares urban best 

23 https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sectors/economic-growth/private-sector-development/funding_en  
24 COM(2017) 667 final, 13.11.2017 
25 https://www.edfi.eu/facility/agrifi/  
26 http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/cooperate/international/pdf/iuc_leaflet_en.pdf  

7 

 
 
 
                                                           
practice between EU cities and cities in strategic partner countries, such as India and China, and the 
inclusion under the EIP of a specific investment window for ‘Sustainable Cities’ (SDG 11). 

The EU’s Covenant of Mayors in Neighbourhood East 

The  EU’s  Covenant  of  Mayors  (CoM)  initiative  supports  municipalities  in  Armenia,  Azerbaijan, 
Belarus,  Georgia,  Moldova  and  Ukraine  to  implement  energy  and  climate  commitments.  By 
providing targeted grants to projects, the EU contributes to their target to cut CO2 emissions by 30 
%  by  2030.  More  than 300  municipalities  in  the  Eastern  Partnership  region  have  signed  up  to  the 
CoM. 

Operationalisation  of  digital  actions  envisaged  in  the  SWD  on  ‘Digital4Development’27  for  2017 
included fibre optic infrastructure projects, improving security and resilience of critical information 
infrastructure  and  networks,  and  fostering  universal  accessible  and  affordable  broadband  across 
Africa.  

PEACE 

Democracy, human rights, good governance 

The  EU  reaffirmed  its  unconditional  support  to  democracy,  human  rights,  and  good  governance 
worldwide  (SDG  16),  while  confirming  its  central  global  role  through  the  dedicated  European 
Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). 

During 2017 the implementation of Democracy and Human Rights action plans continued with a first 
implementation  report  in  June  201728.  Support  to  EU  Delegations  was  provided  via  two  facilities: 
Supporting Democracy and Media4Democracy, aiming to build capacity in the areas of democracy 
support and, respectively, freedom of expression. A global EU4Democracy Campaign was conducted 
in September.  

Fundamentals First for Enlargement 

The ‘fundamentals first’ approach remains one of the principles of Enlargement policy ensuring that 
countries  prioritise  reforms  in  areas  such  as  rule  of  law  and  fundamental  rights,  democratic 
institutions and public administration reform early in the accession process. 

In March, the revised Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child29 were 
adopted setting out the EU's overarching strategy and aims to ensure  that  EU policies and actions 
support the strengthening of partner countries' systems, including child protection. 

Support to Justice Reform in Tunisia 

In 2017, the EU renewed its support to the justice sector in Tunisia by adopting the third phase of 
the Programme d’Appui à la Réforme de la Justice III (EUR 70 million) in cooperation with the Council 
of  Europe.  The  programme  will  reinforce  the  independence  and  impartiality  of  the  judiciary  while 
expanding access to justice for citizens. 

27 SWD(2017) 157 final, 02.05.2017 
28 SWD(2017) 254 final, 27.6.2017 
29 https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/eu_guidelines_rights_of_child_2017.pdf  

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Resilience and fragility 

The 2017 Joint Communication on a strategic approach to resilience’30 enabled the EU to adopt an 
extended  multi  sectorial  commitment  on  resilience.  A  pilot  process  in  six  countries  (Chad,  Iraq, 
Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda) tested a broader humanitarian/ development/ peace nexus. 

During 2017, work on resilience and tackling fragilities focused on four areas: reinforcement of the 
resilience  framework;  the  development  of  an  Integrated  Approach  to  external  conflict  and  crises 
built  on  the  existing  Comprehensive  Approach;  reinforcing  the  importance  of  resilience  in  conflict 
and crises; and support to the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and State building (IDPS) led 
by the fragile countries themselves. 

Security 

2017 has once again demonstrated the key role of the EU in the field of security. The amendment to 
the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) regulation, Capacity Building in support of 
Security  and  Development  (CBSD)31,  came  into  force  in  December  2017.  This  major  policy 
development  allows  for  EU  engagement  with  military  actors  in  pursuit  of  development  objectives 
under clearly defined circumstances. 

The IcSP contributed to accompanying peaceful political transitions, such as those in Kenya or The 
Gambia,  and  continued  support  to  the  Colombian  Peace  Process  as  well  as  the  Kosovo-Serbia 
Dialogue,  mediation  initiatives  in  the  Niger  Delta  region  of  Nigeria,  between  Tebou  and  Touareg 
communities  in Niger and between Guatemala and Belize. New actions in Afghanistan, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina,  Kosovo32,  Libya,  Niger  and  Somalia  directly  complemented  the  work  of  Common 
Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions. 

Combined with ongoing programmes in the Central African Republic, Georgia, Mali and Ukraine, the 
IcSP directly complemented 12 of the 16 ongoing CSDP missions. 

CSDP missions worldwide 

The  16  CSDP  missions  and  operations  include  three  executive  military  operations  (Op  SOPHIA,  Op 
ATALANTA and Op EUFOR ALTHEA) and three non-executive military training missions (EU Training 
Missions Central African Republic, Mali and Somalia). There is also one executive civilian mission (EU 
Rule  of  Law  Mission  (EULEX)  Kosovo),  one  civilian  monitoring  mission  (EU  Monitoring  Mission 
(EUMM) Georgia), a confidence building measure (CBM) mission (European Union Integrated Border 
Management Assistance (EUBAM) Rafah), four capacity building missions EU Police Mission for the 
Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS), EU Capacity Building Missions (CAPs) Somalia, Mali and Niger, 
and two advisory missions (EUAM Ukraine and EUAM Iraq). 

The  Council  conclusions  on  the  EU's  external  action  on  counter-terrorism,  adopted  in  June  201733 
further strengthen the network of counter-terrorism experts in EU Delegations and achieve greater 
coherence between internal and external actions in security by strengthening the role of Justice and 
Home Affairs agencies regarding third countries.  

30 JOIN(2017) 21 final, 7.6.2017 
31 Regulation (EU) 2017/2306 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 
32 This designation is without prejudice on status, and is in line with the UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion 
on the Kosovo declaration of independence  
33http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/06/19/conclusions-counterterrorism/   

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On  EU-NATO  cooperation,  the  implementation  of  the  first  common  set  of  proposals  (42  actions) 
agreed under the Joint Declaration of July 2016, was taken up. In December 2017, the two Councils 
endorsed  a  common  set  of  new  proposals  consisting  of  32  additional  actions  and  expanding 
cooperation  to  key  areas  such  as  counter-terrorism,  women,  peace  and  security  and  military 
mobility. 

Stability 

The  EU  supports  stabilisation  actions  in  Libya,  focusing  on  rehabilitation  of  key  infrastructure, 
humanitarian demining, and the building of a national consensus through mediation support. 

The  ‘Elements  for  an  EU  strategy  for  Syria:  Reinforcing  efforts  to  build  peace’34  was  adopted  in 
March 2017 setting the core objectives for EU action to help bring an end to the war and promote a 
genuine political transition. 

Nuclear safety 

Through  its  multidimensional  approach  addressing  nuclear  safety,  health,  the  environment,  and 
related issues, the Instrument for Nuclear Safety (INSC) programme contributes to many key areas of 
the European Consensus on Development, including key priority actions in Ukraine, Central Asia and 
Iran. 

Peace & prosperity in Iran  

important 

in  putting  the  diplomatic  agreement  with  Iran,  the  Joint 
The  INSC  has  been 
Comprehensive  Plan  of  Action  (JCPOA),  into  practice,  which  is  a  milestone  for  international  non-
proliferation  and  a  strong  contribution  to  peace  in  the  region.  The  first  project  supporting  the 
Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority was initiated in July 2017.  

PARTNERSHIPS 

Cooperation with civil society, donor community and international organisations 

A central element for the success of the 2030 Agenda is to strengthen the means of implementation 
and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development (SDG17). 

The  EU  and  the  UN  are  indispensable  partners  to  deliver  peace  and  security.  In  2017,  the  EU 
continued  to  be  engaged  in  development-related  UN  processes,  including  the  High-Level  Political 
Forum and the Financing for Development Forum.  

The  EU  has  further  strengthened  its  engagement  with  civil  society  organisations  (CSOs).  Twenty-
three  Framework  Partnership  Agreements  have  been  implemented  with  civil  society  platforms.  A 
Report on EU engagement with Civil Society35 was published in 2017. 

Several  development  policy  dialogues  took  place  in  2017  with  non-EU  donors  including  Australia, 
Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the US. 

In  2017,  the  Partnership  Instrument  (PI)  continued  articulating  and  implementing  the  external 
dimension of internal policies, interconnecting different policy areas. Actions cover global challenges 

34 JOIN(2017) 11 final, 14.3.2017 
35 https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/policy-forum-development/documents/eu-cso-report-1  

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like  climate  change  and  environmental  protection  (such  as  clean  energy);  the  international 
dimension  of  the  Europe  2020  strategy36;  improving  access  to  markets  and  boosting  trade, 
investment  and business  opportunities  for EU companies (with particular emphasis on SMEs); and 
public diplomacy. 

Throughout  2017,  the  Commission  continued  to  engage  in  close  collaboration  with  international 
partners such as the G7, G20, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. 

ACCOUNTABILITY and RESULTS 

The European Commission monitors and reports on the results of EU-funded actions with partners 
across the world through the EU International Cooperation and Development Results Framework. 

EU-funded  projects  and  programmes  that  ended  between  mid-2016  and  mid-2017  contributed  to 
the following selection of results: 

PEOPLE 

1 492 000 women of reproductive age and children under five years old benefited from  nutrition-
related programmes 

12  437  000  children  were  enrolled  in  primary  education,  3  377  000  children  were  enrolled  in 
secondary education 

3 096 000 births were attended by skilled health personnel, reducing maternal mortality 

136 000 000 insecticide-treated bed nets were distributed, preventing the spread of malaria37 

PLANET 

16 140 000 hectares of protected areas were managed, ensuring biological diversity and preserving 
natural heritage 

3 438 000 people were able to access to sustainable energy services 

PROSPERITY 

757  000  people  secured  tenure  of  land,  building  up  their  assets  to  enjoy  sustainable  livelihoods 
through agriculture 

1 844 000 people were provided with access to all-season roads 

166  000  people  benefited  from  Vocational  and  Educational  Training  or  skills  development 
programmes improving employability 

PEACE 

309 000 people benefited directly from legal aid, ensuring equality before the law 

1  420  000  people  benefited  directly  from  programmes  supporting  civilian  post-conflict  peace 
building and conflict prevention 

36 https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-economic-
governance-monitoring-prevention-correction/european-semester/framework/europe-2020-strategy_en  
37 The EU’s ongoing support to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria contributed to this 
result. 

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