The integration of the social cohesion and the reduction of inequalities approach in the budget support programmes of European Union

Budget support is an important instrument of the EU’s global development policy towards partner countries, strongly linked to supporting the achievement of government policy results for improving the lives of people in areas such as health, education, social protection, access to basic services and management of public finances, among others. EUROsociAL+ supports the development of national public policies in Latin America aimed at improving levels of social cohesion. EUROsociAL+ has commissioned this study to provide a first general orientation on how the focus on inclusion, reduction of inequalities and social cohesion of European cooperation is effectively transferred to the formulation and implementation of budget support  programmes, and how this approach is integrated into internal of DG DEVCO and NEAR processes. This study can, from the perspective of EUROsociAL+, help to promote the continuous improvement of innovative EU cooperation tools and methodologies in Latin America and, eventually, in other geographical areas. In this way, the European Commission, specifically the General Directorate of International Cooperation and Development and, indirectly, the European Union Delegations in Latin American, will have an analytical proposal and guidance on how to make budget support a more effective modality in the promotion of social cohesion and inclusion, and the fight against inequality.