Expertise France takes over as Chair of the Practitioners’ Network of European development agencies

Just three years after its creation, Expertise France, the French technical cooperation agency, has taken over from Germany’s GIZ as head of a network of 15 European agencies – the world’s leading technical cooperation platform. The Practitioners’ Network is a platform for exchanges and operational cooperation between Member State agencies. Its members, which are accredited for the delegated management of European funds, operate in all the priority sectoral and geographical areas of the European Union’s external aid: reconstruction of basic services in Syria, support for migration policies in the Maghreb region, fight against climate change in Latin America…

“It is a major recognition and a sign of confidence from our European peers and I am particularly honoured to take over from Germany’s GIZ, our main European partner. The day after President Macron’s speech about Europe in Aix la Chapelle, we are committed more than ever before to joining our efforts and our expertise to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of the European Union’s development policy, for the benefit of populations in the South”, stated Sébastien Mosneron Dupin, Chief Executive Officer of Expertise France.

Expertise France is taking over the chair at a critical time for the future of the European development policy, with the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework and the financing instruments for the EU’s external action. It is a critical time for the European Union itself, with the upcoming European elections and the end of the Brexit negotiations.

The Practitioners' Network for European Development Cooperation was set up in 2007 and is a platform for exchanges, coordination and harmonisation between Member State organisations with a public service mission which directly implement European or bilateral development assistance. The network currently comprises 15 members, with the European Commission as an observer.