First, the directors-general were briefed on the state of play of the Team Europe programming process. They went on to discuss the initiatives already debated in February this year. To this end, the European Commission has drafted a second set of initiatives considered mature enough for further consideration.

The directors-general first focused on Team Europe initiatives in individual partner countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Oceania. The European Commission then gave an overview of the current situation in the programming process for regional indicative programmes in the aforementioned regions and the preparation of initiatives for the European Neighbourhood.

Director-General Pipan endorsed the progress made in the process to date. She stressed the importance of close cooperation between the EU institutions and Member States as a true European team in support of partner countries around the world. She gave assurances that Slovenia, as the next holder of the EU Council Presidency, would pay full attention to this process and continue the work initiated by the Portuguese Presidency under the trio programme. 

The directors-general then went on to discuss the sustainable funding, already debated in February. Also on the agenda was the presentation of the achievements of the EU – Africa Business Forum, held between 16 and 21 April 2021, as well as a briefing on the Paris Summit on the financing of Africa's economies, scheduled for 18 May 2021.