Finland has strong influence around the world as a member of the EU

EU Member States engaged in closer cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together, the EU and its Member States are the world's largest donor. In 2020, they supported development cooperation with a total of approximately EUR 67 billion, which was almost half of the total global official development assistance.

Approximately one fifth of Finland's official development cooperation funds goes to the EU budget annually, from which it is distributed the European Commission's Directorates-General for International Partnerships, European Neighbourhood and Humanitarian Aid.

The Commission, which started its mandate in 2019, set the strengthening of the EU's global role as one of its priorities. Development policy and development cooperation, i.e. strengthening the Union's international partnerships, promoting sustainable development and reducing global poverty, contribute to this goal.

Finland has supported the effectiveness of EU development cooperation through participating in the preparation of EU development cooperation policies, the implementation of joint programmes and the development of new forms of cooperation. In particular, Finland has supported efforts to promote the green transition, digitalisation and sustainable economy as well as human development. Finland has also contributed to strengthening of the importance of gender equality and education in EU’s development cooperation.

In recent years, cooperation between EU institutions and Member States has further increased. Cooperation between EU Member States, EU institutions and European development finance institutions was improved and streamlined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Team Europe approach(Link to another website.) was launched in 2020 and coordination, joint programming and joint communication continue to be developed under this approach. Through the EU, Finland has also gained more impact and visibility for its activities.

Steering of EU funding

In 2021, the EU adopted the new Global Europe Regulation, which significantly harmonises and steers the Union's external action financing.

In the negotiations concerning the regulation, Finland primarily influenced the areas to which EU funding is allocated and the funding priorities. For Finland, it is important to focus on results and to see development policy as a central part of the EU's external relations. Finland’s other key objectives that were recorded in the Regulation included the allocation of funding primarily to Africa, emphasising climate action and a commitment to concrete measures to promote gender equality.

Harmonised global funding is expected to accelerate the EU's ability to respond to unexpected crises. This has already been reflected, for example, in the EU's swift response to the needs arising in Ukraine due to Russia’s illegal invasion.

The most direct way of influencing the effectiveness of EU funding is to participate in the planning and implementation of EU programmes at the country level. Finland has joint programming with the EU in several countries and participates in EU’s Team Europe Initiatives. In Nepal and Ukraine, Finland also manages EU funding.

In addition to the actual joint programmes, Finland also influences the activities of the EU at the country level through embassies as well as EU coordination. Together with EU delegations, Finland also engages in dialogue with partner countries.

EU strengthening its global role

EU Global Europe funding totals EUR 79.5 billion for 2021-2027.

  • Geographic programmes, total EUR 60.4 billion (A-D)
  • Thematic programmes, total EUR 6.4 billion (E-H)
  • Regulation NDICI 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Article 6. Global Europe is the new EU Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument that will facilitate harmonised funding for geographic and thematic programmes and rapid response for 2021-2027. In addition, the Global Europe instrument includes the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD +), which supports investment and increases access to finance, and provides loan and financial guarantees up to EUR 53.4 billion.

Download data file Source: European Union

The COVID-19 pandemic created the Team Europe operating model

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The EU responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges it brought about by developing the so-called Team Europe approach. The EU's key objective was to enhance and harmonise the way in which support intended for partner countries' COVID-19 efforts was used. For example, under the Team Europe umbrella, all EU actors, including Finland, were able to join forces when negotiating on vaccine deliveries.

According to an external evaluation commissioned by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Team Europe activities improved EU coordination and visibility and strengthened the image of the EU as a unified actor. Team Europe also increased the amount of assistance, especially as the pandemic progressed.

Influencing EU evaluated

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An external evaluation of Finnish development policy influencing in the EU in 2014-2021 commissioned by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be published in autumn 2022. The objective of this extensive independent evaluation is to produce information on how Finland has exerted its influence in the EU and how this can be improved. The preliminary findings confirm that during its 2019 EU Presidency, Finland succeeded in promoting its nationally important objectives, such as taking gender equality into account in EU development policy. Finland has carried out advocacy work, especially in cooperation with like-minded Member States. Strong advocacy work is a cost-effective way to achieve results.