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 THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
The European Economic Community (EEC) was established by the Treaty of Rome of 1957 as a regional organisation that aimed to bring about economic integration among its member states. Over the years, the EEC evolved into the European Union (EU).
The European Union (EU) has been supporting various sectors in Sierra Leone since it started a Delegation in Freetown in 1976. The EU’s support to Sierra Leone initially mainly came through the European Development Fund (EDF) based on the Cotonou Agreement focussing on promoting Good Governance, Public Sector reforms, effective Revenue Mobilisation, Economic Diversification and Job Creation. The EDF has been superseded by the Global Europe instrument, which is integrated into the 2021–2027 multi-annual financial framework of the EU. Current EU support to Sierra Leone is provided within the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027, adopted under the Global Europe instrument. The MIP activities are aligned to Sierra Leone’s MTNDP and focus on the Green Economy, Human Development and Governance. These priority areas are central to the realisation of the SDGs, and the EU Commission’s priorities of green deal, digital and data technology, sustainable decent jobs and growth, governance, and peace and security.
Within this framework and in line with the MTNDP, the EU provided an estimated $28.74 million (€26.48 million) in grants in 2023, representing a 16.86 percent reduction in support relative to its 2022 level. While this marks the second year in a row of declining EU grant support for Sierra Leone, following an almost 60 percent drop between 2021 and 2022, it is worth noting that the EU provided significant support to the energy sector by means of various financial instruments, notably in support of the CLSG connection.
For further information about the European Union operations in Sierra Leone please visit: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/sierra-leone/
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