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European Development Fund

Created by the Treaty of Rome in 1957, the European Development Fund (EDF) has been the European Union’s (EU) main instrument to finance development cooperation with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and overseas countries and territories.

The EDF finances any project or programme which contributes to the economic, social or cultural development of the countries in question. It also funds regional cooperation and integration programmes.

The EDF uses several types of financing, including grants, procurement contracts, financial instruments (such as loans, guarantees, equity or quasi-equity, investments or participations) and risk-sharing instruments.

Since 2021, cooperation with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries has been incorporated into the multiannual financial framework (2021–2027) and in particular into the EU Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe.

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