Information about the Delegation of the European Union to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Delegation

The European Union (EU) Delegation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo represents all EU institutions in the country.

The main functions of the Delegation are to:

  • Represent all the EU Institutions and conduct policy dialogue with the DRC authorities and civil society organisations. This policy dialogue is part of the Cotonou Agreement on ACP-EU partnership and aims to promote shared values and interests such as respect for human rights and political freedom, strengthening democracy, and the consolidation of the rule of law.
  • Assume the EU mandate locally, having a coordination and impulse role and expressing an opinion on policy matters on behalf of the EU and EU countries, carrying out common demarches on behalf of the EU and its Member states.
  • Act as a link between the EU Headquarters and the DRC authorities. In that capacity, it contributes to analysing the situation on both a national and sub-regional level from a political, economic and social point of view, and to the formulation of EU appropriate response. It monitors as well the implementation of all EU policies in the DRC.
  • Contribute as a key partner to sustainable development and poverty reduction in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through its cooperation programs in areas such as good governance, infrastructure, health, sustainable agriculture, environment and bio-diversity, reform of the police, justice and public finance system etc. across the country. The Delegation is involved in the definition of the EU cooperation strategy vis-à-vis the DRC and manages in close cooperation with the National Authorizing Body (COFED), interventions from the Directorate-general for development and Cooperation of the European Commission (DEVCO).
  • Collaborate closely with United Nations agencies on the ground, including United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) along with international, regional institutions (World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank amongst others), regional and sub-regional organisations (African Union, SADC etc.) and diplomatic missions of partner countries. It contributes to better coordination of the partners' cooperation programs and assumes its obligations as a member of the executive committee of the donor’s coordination group.
  • Develop press and information activities to foster and promote the above-mentioned objectives.
  • Coordinate activities with the office of DG ECHO (Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection) hosted within the Delegation to supervise humanitarian programs financed by the European Commission.
  • Coordinate locally consular protection and the implementation of the visa code (Schengen agreement).