Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/general/index_en.htm
In 1998, the Common Service for External Relations (SCR) was set up to unite the services responsible for implementing aid programmes to countries outside the EU and improving their management.
In 2000, the European Commission decided to take its reform a step further by carrying out an ambitious programme to improve the quality of projects and the speed of their implementation. The European Commission is one of the main providers of official development assistance. EuropeAid Co-operation Office's mission is to implement the external aid instruments of the European Commission which are funded by the European Community budget and the European Development Fund.