On 24 June 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision setting the second instalment of financial contributions to the European Development Fund (EDF) for 2026 at EUR 250 million, payable by EU Member States and the United Kingdom to the European Commission. The decision, published on 23 June 2026, implements the annual contribution ceiling of EUR 700 million for the Commission established by Council Decision (EU) 2025/2324 of 13 November 2025.
The second instalment follows the first instalment for 2026, which was set earlier in the year. The Commission, as required by Article 19(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1877, submitted a proposal by 15 June 2026 specifying the amount. The decision mandates that calls for contributions first draw on remaining funds from previous EDFs, in line with Article 20(1) of the same regulation.
A notable feature of the decision is the treatment of the United Kingdom's contribution. Following its March 2023 request under Article 153 of the withdrawal agreement, the UK's outstanding share of reserves from the 10th and 11th EDFs will be netted out in the payment instructions, reducing its net payment. The European Investment Bank (EIB) had already called all its share of the 11th EDF with the first instalment of 2025.
The decision enters into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The EUR 250 million instalment will be used to finance development projects in African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries under the 11th EDF framework.
Stakeholder impact
EU Member States and the UK face a direct financial obligation of EUR 250 million, with the UK benefiting from a netting adjustment that reduces its cash outlay. The European Commission receives the funds to manage EDF programmes. ACP countries are the ultimate beneficiaries of the development aid financed by these contributions. EU taxpayers indirectly fund the contributions, though the amount is modest relative to the overall EU budget.
Institutional follow-up
The Commission will issue payment instructions to Member States and the UK, incorporating the netting mechanism for the UK. The next instalment for 2026 is expected to be set later in the year, with the annual ceiling of EUR 700 million already fixed.