Working Better Together in a Team Europe Approach

Joint programming is a method for coming together through a joint analysis and joint response to develop a comprehensive, cross-sectoral shared strategic vision for EU and MS external action in a partner country. It is a strategic engagement process through which the EU and MS representations in consultation with national authorities and other key national stakeholders define a strategic framework for their relations with the partner country, which also covers the Global Gateway investment agenda. In line with the principles of development effectiveness, the joint programming is centred around joint, strategic objectives which are aligned with the partner country’s National Development Plan. These provide an umbrella framework linking up the usually more sector-focused Team Europe initiatives and joint implementation to reduce silo-approaches and fragmentation. Joint programming allows actors following a Team Europe approach to make (joint) strategic decisions based on a comprehensive view of European actors’ support to a given partner country. More specifically:

• Joint programming can be defined as a strategic, coherent, and coordinated method to European development cooperation and external action planning at country level. It is the preferred method for programming at partner country level, where feasible, and is a voluntary, flexible, and tailored process.
• Core elements, principles and steps include a joint analysis, a joint response, and a joint results framework. Reviews are foreseen as basis for collective dialogue, learning and adaptation.
• Joint programming supports “thinking jointly” about the implementation of development cooperation and other external activities. It enables actors following a Team Europe approach to make strategic decisions on the use of resources, drawing on agreed division of labour and potential joint implementation modalities.
• Joint programming should also lead to speaking with one voice in joint policy dialogue with partner country stakeholders as well as and joint visibility for European support.
• Heads of Delegation, together with Member State Heads of Mission, steer the process and consult the corresponding sections (Commission services/EEAS) throughout the process
• Beyond the actors following a Team Europe approach, external stakeholders should be involved and consulted throughout the joint programming process, from design to implementation and monitoring, considering that country ownership, partnerships and collaboration are at the heart of the Team Europe approach.
• The scope and ambitions of joint programming is to strengthen the efficiency, coherence, transparency, predictability, and visibility of the external assistance of the EU and its Member States. Core EU values and universally recognised human rights, including gender equality, and principles of good governance and engagement with civil society are core parts of the approach.
• Joint programming also provides an avenue to identify in a Team Europe approach the key issues at country and regional level that are conducive for the identification of Global Gateway investments.
• There is an opportunity to further expand joint programming to fragile situations and conflict-affected situations. The starting point for this must be an early, coordinated, and shared conflict analysis as a strategic basis for conflict-sensitive joint programming.

⇒ For further reading please see section 2 and annex 1 of the full guidance.