ABSTRACT
The European Union (EU) is generally considered a unique case in international development in that it combines the characteristics of a bilateral donor—it provides direct assistance to developing countries through a substantial programme managed by the European Commission— with that of a multilateral agency—it embodies the efforts of its member states, which, however, carry out their policies autonomously. Taking together these two dimensions makes the EU the largest donor in international development: in 2007 it accounted for more than half of the world’s aid (DAC 2007, 2009). Nevertheless, as a consequence of the failure to co-ordinate and divide tasks among the various actors, the EU has generally punched below its weight. Since the early 2000s this situation has shown some signs of change: the ‘common’ commitment on quantity and quality of aid, the ambitious agenda on policy coherence, the adoption of the European Consensus on Development, give a clear indication that a new season has started in EU development policy. All these changes have serious implications on the role that the EU wants to play in the international arena.
