ODA disbursements in 2018

EU development policy is at the heart of external action. Most EU external financing qualifies as ODA and is directed towards ODA-recipient countries (over 90 % according to the OECD). Its key objective is eradicating poverty, promoting human rights and gender equality, and tackling environmental and climate challenges. Together the EU and its Member States are a leading development donor, having provided over €74.4 billion in aid in 2018. Article 208 TFEU stipulates that the EU’s and the Member States’ development cooperation policies should complement and reinforce each other. In addition, the Treaty prescribes ensuring overall policy coherence for sustainable development, and factoring in the impact of all related policies within and beyond the EU, as part of the strategy to achieve the UN sustainable development goals.