Since the signing of an exchange of letters between the EU and UNODC in 2005, cooperation has developed rapidly. Frequent policy dialogues have been matched by intensive operational cooperation through projects in the field, making the EU one of UNODC’s most important operational partners globally.
The EU – UN partnership maximizes their respective capacity to ensure peace and security, justice and the rule of law, healthy lives and gender equality in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, this cooperation contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 14 (Life Below Water), 15 (Life On Land) as well as 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and 17 (Partnerships for Goals).
Over the years, a well-structured system for information exchange that supports and facilitates joint policy and operational work has developed thanks to the close coordination with relevant interlocutors within the European institutions, notably:
EU-UNODC projects are providing support worldwide to develop standards, capacities and cooperation related to illicit drugs, organized crime, corruption, terrorism, and criminal justice. This operational partnership benefits from the best technical expertise available across a broad spectrum of thematic and geographic areas. It builds on the shared recognition that organized crime knows no borders and that improved cooperation is instrumental to providing effective responses.
Through global, trans-regional, multi-country and national projects, the EU and UNODC portfolio has reached 100 projects since 2014. The European Union is among the top donors to UNODC.
In this period, UNODC projects have benefitted from contributions from DG International Partnerships (INTPA), the Foreign Policy Instrument Service (FPI), DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR), DG Migration and Home Affairs (HOME), DG Structural Reform Support (REFORM), and DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (EAC).
The EU-UN Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement (FAFA), signed in 2003, provides the overall framework for contracting of EU funding to UNODC and applies to all Directorates General of the European Commission.