Press Release: Commission simplifies External Cooperation Programmes

The European Commission on 25 January 2006 approved seven new thematic programmes in the framework of the reform of its External Actions. With the EU’s country and regional programmes, the new thematic programmes were to form the backbone of the European Commission’s external co-operation activities from 2007 onwards. The seven new thematic programmes regroup the 15 current thematic programmes. The aim was to simplify the delivery of foreign assistance and achieve more and better results with the resources available. Thematic programmes were set up to achieve policy objectives that are not geographically limited and where the goal cannot be fully achieved through country and regional programmes.

The decision was part of a larger reform of the Community’s external co-operation for the new financial period until 2013 under which the European Commission was planning to deliver foreign assistance more effectively and more efficiently, under a reduced number of budget lines. The financial allocations for the new thematic programmes were awaiting final agreement at the time.

The programmes approved on 25 January 2006 include: the programme on Human Rights and Democracy, on 'Investing in People', on Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, including Energy, on Food Security, on Non-state actors in Development, on Migration and Asylum and on Cooperation with Industrialised Countries.

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