European Neighborhood and Enlargement Regional Office

Direction régionale Élargissement et Voisinage européen — © AFD

The European Neighborhood and Enlargement Regional Office covers an area stretching from the Adriatic Sea to the Caspian Sea, bringing together 12 countries — including all countries officially candidates for accession to the European Union. In a context of profound geopolitical realignment, where stabilizing the eastern flank of the continent has become a strategic priority for France and the EU, AFD Group operates at the crossroads of several major challenges: sustainable development, European convergence, energy sovereignty, territorial resilience, and institutional strengthening.

These countries face common challenges — energy transition, climate adaptation, persistent socioeconomic gaps, and consolidation of the rule of law — which represent vulnerabilities for the stability of the continent. European convergence and sustainable development are not two separate agendas: they complement and reinforce each other. It is in this spirit that we support our partners, by fostering concrete, visible transformations for their populations.

Strategy

AFD Group operates in the region along 4 strategic pillars, combining a sustainable development agenda with European convergence. Across all our operations, we are committed to maximizing climate co-benefits, reducing social and gender inequalities, and adopting a cross-cutting approach linking environmental, social and economic dimensions. We support public institutions, private sector actors, and civil society organizations alike.

We support institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law, transparency, public financial management, and administrative capacity. This support, which includes civil society, contributes to inclusive economic and social transitions in line with the ambitions and standards of the European Union.

We promote the transition towards sovereign, low-carbon energy systems by supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and legislative reforms in the energy sector. This action helps reduce energy dependencies, supports the integration of partner countries into the European energy network, and aligns them with Europe's low-carbon trajectory.

We support the modernization of water and sanitation infrastructure, the development of sustainable transport, waste management, housing improvements, and irrigation infrastructure — investments that strengthen territorial resilience in the face of climate challenges and bring living conditions closer to European standards.

We support private sector development — SMEs, innovation, female entrepreneurship, and economic inclusion — while fostering economic partnerships with French and European actors, contributing to the promotion of French expertise across the region.

An approach built on Group-wide strengths and partnerships

Present across all countries in the region with over 230 staff including 34 international technical experts, the AFD Group — AFD, Proparco and Expertise France — combines public and private financing, technical assistance and peer-to-peer cooperation to support structural investments and institutional reforms. More than three quarters of our operations mobilize French expertise, making the Group a tangible driver of the bilateral relationship.

As a member of Team Europe, the Group works in close coordination with the European Commission and other institutions within the European ecosystem. We thus contribute to strengthening France's influence and voice, while giving concrete form to European solidarity. Supporting our neighbors in their transformation means strengthening ourselves too.