Press Release: 2010 European aid report: read how EU’s action helps the poorest countries to develop

The European Commission adopted on 28 June 2010 its Annual Report 2010 on the implementation of EU's development and external assistance policies in 2009. Programmes and projects led by the Commission reached around 140 developing countries. Specific instruments were set up to help the world's poorest to face the triple economic, food and environmental crisis and delivered results: for instance, more than 50 million people are receiving assistance to face hunger from the EU Food Facility, the budgets of 15 countries in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific were supported to help them resist to the pressure of the economic crisis, and the EU agreed a 'fast-start' funding of €2.4 billion annually for 2010-2012 to assist developing countries in adapting to climate change. The Commission is the second largest provider of development aid in the world, with commitments amounting to €12 billion, and plays a leading role in coordinating EU efforts to make aid more effective.