​Aid is one of the 7 policy dimensions assessed by the Commitment to Development Index (CDI) published annually by the Center for Global Development. Provision of foreign aid is also often the main policy area people think of when assessing the contribution of rich countries to development abroad, and notwithstanding the increasing significance of beyond aid policies, aid will remain high on the political agenda, in Europe and elsewhere in the coming years.

This paper assesses the aid component of the Commitment to Development Index and evaluates the European contribution to aid over the past decade. After a brief overview of the most recent methodology, the authors discuss major trends and patterns of European performance and identify possible areas of improvement. The paper also reviews the current methodology of the component and suggests potential changes. It concludes by discussing aid provision in the broader context of global public goods. Finally, the paper proposes some provocative questions for discussion.