The Council approves conclusions on the Team Europe approach

The Foreign Affairs Council, in its development configuration, approved today conclusions on the Team Europe approach.

The Council underlines that since the establishment of the Team Europe approach, the world has been facing a series of interlocking crises, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their ongoing consequences.

These multiple crises are weakening the capacities of partner countries to tackle the persistent challenges of poverty, climate change and environmental degradation, conflict, food insecurity, growing inequalities and economic downturn, with serious repercussions on migration and forced displacement.

The Council considers that the Team Europe approach increases the ability of the EU and its member states to work together with partner countries to address these and other global challenges, mitigate their consequences and allow a social, green and digital transition, while upholding human rights, democracy, the rule of law and gender equality.

The Council also considers that it is timely to take stock of the Team Europe approach, within the context of the evolution of European development cooperation, notably in light of the 2021 launch of the Global Gateway Strategy and the approaching mid-term of the implementation of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-GE).

The Team Europe approach is a precondition for the successful implementation of the Global Gateway Strategy, including the envisaged mobilisation of up to €300 billion in investments by the end of the current EU long-term budget (Multiannual Financial Framework).

The use of the Team Europe approach as the preferred option whenever feasible for the EU’s and its member states’ development cooperation and partnerships, maximises effectiveness and policy coherence for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implementing the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

The Council is determined to improve and intensify the implementation of the Team Europe approach by connecting all three of its main methods of work, namely joint programming, joint implementation and Team Europe initiatives.