When the Maastricht Treaty on European Union (TEU) came into effect in November 1993, development co-operation became a stated part of European policy in a treaty for the first time. This Briefing Paper covers the main aspects of the EU aid programme and explains what has changed in EU development co-operation since the Treaty of Maastricht. It asks if a Europeanisation of EU aid is taking place and describes what has happened to the priorities for EU aid. Finally, it discusses ideas about the future shape and direction of EU development policy and the role of the European Commission in relation to the donor agencies of the EU's fifteen Member States.