The European Commission can now speak with one voice on development and cooperation issues: since the 3rd of January 2011, the new Directorate-General, DG DEVCO formally began its work, and will be responsible for designing European development policy and delivering aid throughout the world.

DG DEVCO brings together two former Directorates General: DG Development and DG EuropeAid.Having one address for development policy and implementation will provide a single contact point for stakeholders both inside and outside the EU, a press release said. DG DEVCO will also be the single interlocutor for the European External Action Service (EEAS), and for all sectoral DGs.

The press release added that the new Directorate-General would reinforce the ability of the EU to design state-of-the-art development policy for all developing countries, and enhance policy coherence for development while further improving implementation and delivery mechanisms. It will also define the future development policy drawing from the objectives of the EU's Green Paper on development policy and contribute to global challenges ahead.

Source: European Union