ABSTRACT
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the development cooperation of the European Union covers more than 100 countries. The aims of this co-operation are laid down in the Maastricht Treaty, which establishes that the main goal of the Community's aid policy is to promote sustainable economic and social development. However, it is also laid down that the development aid of the Community has to work together with the bilateral development policies of the member states. This requires, at least in theory, some kind of co-ordination between the decision-makers in Brussels and those located in the different European capitals. It is the aim of the common aid policy to secure the gradual and harmonious integration of the developing countries into the world economy. The fight against poverty also has high priority, in combination with the aim to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law (articles 130U-130Y).
