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The following section outlines the current financial structure which supports the different geographical and thematic development instruments of the EU. The Community's external assistance is delivered via large-scale geographical programs. A sum has also been made available for the creation of thematic programs aimed at financing global and horizontal initiatives, in particular multilateral or global initiatives that will promote the EU's internal policies abroad. Funds allocated to the European Community's development assistance come from two main sources: the EU budget and the European Development Fund. Different administrative rules and decision-making structures apply to these two distinct channels. - European Development Fund: For historical reasons, the greater share of the funds allocated for development programs with the African and Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) is not financed by the EU budget, but by a separate instrument, the European Development Fund (EDF). Since 2003 the budgetisation of the EDF, which means its integration into the EC Budget, has been under negotiation. Financial resources from the European Development Fund are administered in accordance with rules laid out in the Cotonou Agreement, which is the general framework for EU-ACP co-operation, and specifically in the EDF regulations adopted by the Council.
- EU budget: Co-operations with developing and transition countries in all geographic regions are financed through the General Budget, the Annual European Community (EC) Budget, covered by heading 4 of the EC Budget "The EU as a global player." Funds from the EU budget are administered in accordance with existing EU financial regulations. The EU budget is voted on an annual basis while the European Community's budget priorities are defined for a seven-year period in a framework called the "financial perspective". This describes under different budget headings the maximum amounts (ceilings) of commitment appropriations (financial commitments) for each year.
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