The European Development Fund
The European Development Fund (EDF) is the main instrument for European Union aid for development cooperation in the ACP countries and the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT). Articles 131 and 136 of the 1957 Treaty of Rome provided for its creation with a view to granting technical and financial assistance to African countries that were still colonised at that time.
The EDF does not come under the general European Union budget. It is funded by the Member States, covered by its own financial rules and managed by a specific committee: the EDF Committee (chaired by the Commission and composed by the EU Member States).
The Member States set the EDF budget in the Council via agreements that are subsequently ratified by the national parliament of each Member State. The European Commission and other institutions established under the partnership play a key role in the day-to-day management of the EDF.
Each EDF is concluded for a period of around five years. Since the conclusion of the first partnership convention in 1964, the EDF cycles have generally followed that of the partnership agreements/conventions.
The ninth EDF, concluded at the same time as the Cotonou Agreement , has been allocated EUR 13.5 billion over a period of five years. The tenth EDF covers the period from 2008 to 2013 and provides an overall budget of EUR 22 682 million.
Overview of EDFs:
- First EDF: 1959-1964
- Second EDF: 1964-1970 (Yaoundé I Convention)
- Third EDF: 1970-1975 (Yaoundé II Convention)
- Fourth EDF: 1975-1980 (Lomé I Convention)
- Fifth EDF: 1980-1985 (Lomé II Convention)
- Sixth EDF: 1985-1990 (Lomé III Convention)
- Seventh EDF: 1990-1995 (Lomé IV Convention)
- Eighth EDF: 1995-2000 (Lomé IV Convention and the revised Lomé IV)
- Ninth EDF: 2000-2007 (Cotonou Agreement)
- Tenth EDF: 2008-2013 (Revised Cotonou Agreement)
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