Design, Results and Reporting

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In the context of the European Union (EU) external action, Directorate-Generals such as INTPA (International Partnerships), ENEST (Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood), MENA (Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf) and FPI (Foreign Policy Instruments), a framework typically refers to a structured approach or system that provides guidance, objectives, and methodologies to implement policies, programmes, or projects effectively.

Frameworks are designed to ensure coherence, accountability, and alignment with the European Union’s strategic goals and priorities. They outline the key principles, performance indicators, and monitoring mechanisms necessary to measure progress and achieve results.

For example:

• In INTPA, frameworks might address global challenges such as sustainable development or human rights by defining the goals and strategies for EU-funded international partnerships.
• In ENEST and MENA, frameworks such as the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) provide a roadmap for candidate and potential candidate countries to align with EU standards and values.
• In FPI, frameworks may guide the implementation of foreign policy tools, including crisis response measures and strategic partnerships.

Frameworks serve as a foundation for planning, implementation, and evaluation, ensuring that activities remain consistent, results-oriented, and aligned with EU values.

This section offers key resources, explanatory notes, and guidance on the EU’s primary frameworks for international cooperation, sustainable development, and financial instruments. These frameworks provide structured approaches to ensure coherence, accountability, and measurable results across EU-funded programmes and initiatives.

The appropriate framework depends on the Directorate-General (DG) overseeing a specific project or programme. Below are the essential frameworks supporting the results reporting exercise:

• INTPA (International Partnerships) – the Global Europe Results Framework (GERF) is the EU’s system for monitoring the impact, outcomes, and outputs of international partnerships under the Global Europe programme (MFF). It includes predefined indicators and result chains to align interventions with EU priorities.
• ENEST (Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood) / MENA (Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf) – the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) is the main funding instrument for supporting socio-economic development, governance reforms, and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and Turkey.
• FPI (Foreign Policy Instruments) applies frameworks tailored to foreign policy objectives, such as crisis response and strategic partnerships. The FPI Results Framework (FPI RF) provides a comprehensive set of indicators to measure impacts, outcomes, and outputs across FPI's areas of work, including mandatory indicators for all interventions. The indicators are not instrument specific, they can be used in any intervention regardless of the funding source.