EC approves conclusions on the evaluation of the NDICI-Global Europe external financing instrument

The Council approved conclusions on the mid-term evaluation of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe).

The conclusions follow up on the Commission’s report on the evaluation of the European Union's External Financing Instruments for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFFs).

In the conclusions, the Council considers that NDICI-Global Europe is overall fit for purpose and delivering against its objectives. In addition, the Council notes that, by merging several external financing instruments from the 2014-2020 MFF, NDICI-Global Europe is addressing the fragmented set-up of the previous financial architecture and is a step forward in terms ofclarity, effectiveness and transparency of the EU's support to and cooperation with its partner countries.

The Council emphasises that the current geopolitical context requires an EU that delivers on its development and geopolitical objectives, promotes the EU's core values and interests globally, and responds to the needs of partner countries. In this regard, NDICI-Global Europe, through its policy-first ambition and strengthened partnerships, enhances the Union's geopolitical role.

The Council also underlines that the NDICI-Global Europe instrument and the Global Gateway strategy are key tools in the drive to strengthen the efficiency, transparency and concrete results of development efforts in partner countries, through a Team Europe approach.

At the same time, the Council affirms the need for stronger policy coherence in the development area to achieve more effective development cooperation, in view of the specific objectives of both NDICI-Global Europe and the 2030 Agenda.

Challenges for effective implementation

Regarding the challenges that remain for effective implementation of NDICI-Global Europe, the Council stresses, among others, the following aspects:

  • further enhancing coherence between internal and external policies and priorities, and taking into account the impact of EU policies on partner countries;
  • addressing the increased complexity for local actors and civil society to participate in and have access to funding under the NDICI-Global Europe programmes;
  • further adjusting the governance of EU external action in line with lessons learned;
  • addressing the shortcomings identified regarding the incentive-based approach;
  • increasing efforts to reinforce local ownership, in particular among communities, local and regional authorities and civil society organisations;
  • further enhancing collaboration and synergies between EU and bilateral cooperation;
  • further improving the synergy between country, regional and thematic programmes as well as support for global public goods;
  • improving linkages between more flexible crisis response and longer-term development as well as stronger coherence with common security and defence policy (CSDP) instruments;
  • improving the modalities, criteria and guidance for the deployment of the cushion for emerging challenges and priorities;
  • further investing in expertise and capacity-building at EU delegations and headquarters in order to apply markers and monitor targets more rigorously and use data more strategically;
  • further increasing the impact of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), speeding up contracting, and facilitating the implementation and monitoring of the budgetary guarantees. 

The Council also highlights that monitoring of the implementation of NDICI-Global Europe should continue.