This report sets out the progress achieved in 2019 with the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) – the financing arm of the EU External Investment Plan. These results were possible in large part because all those involved in putting the Fund into practice – notably the Commission and European Investment Bank services, EU delegations and our partner financial institutions – worked so closely and assiduously together. Going beyond our initial financial targets Through the Fund, we offer financial guarantees and blending projects, which combine EU grants with financing from other public and private investors. Our original targets, set in 2017, were to allocate €4.1 billion for guarantees and blending projects by 2020, and to leverage up to €44 billion in overall investment. By the end of 2019, we had exceeded these expectations. Current targets are now set at allocating a total of €4.6 billion and leveraging an expected €47 billion. Supported projects will help improve transport links, generate more renewable energy, develop the private sector, notably small and mediumsized enterprises, and promote agriculture that respects people and the environment. Supporting other EU policies The EFSD complements several other flagship EU policies. Chief amongst these is the European Green Deal. It will help to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, and enable economies within and beyond the EU to grow more sustainably and fairly. Several EFSD guarantees will scale up financing for renewable energy in our partner countries, and many blending projects have a climate action component. The External Investment Plan is also central to the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy, and will be key to realising the proposed strategy with Africa that the Commission set out in March 2020.

链接地址：http://dx.doi.org/10.2841/58890