The European Union and its member countries, collectively, represent the primary source of Official Development Assistance globally (OECD-DAC). In 2017, the European Union adopted the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and placed them at the center of its cooperation efforts through the "New European Consensus on Development," a strategic framework for community institutions and member countries.

The Italian Cooperation system has a two-way relationship with the European Union. According to Article 6 of Law 125/2014, Italy, on the one hand, "participates in defining the European Union’s development aid policy, contributes to the EU budget and funds, and aligns its own policies and programming with those of the European Union, fostering the implementation of joint projects." On the other hand, it "contributes to the execution of European development aid programs, including through indirect centralized management, typically via the Agency."

The European Commission, therefore, represents a strategic partner for the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), which, since the start of its operations in January 2016, has provided technical and managerial support for the implementation of initiatives funded by European instruments and entrusted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

In 2018, the Agency completed the accreditation process as a qualified institution for the indirect management of European funds. From that point, AICS assumed full responsibility for delegated cooperation initiatives.

AICS Jerusalem is currently managing a three-year delegated cooperation project of the European Union, focused on enhancing and improving solid waste management in the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem and surrounding areas to improve environmental quality and community health. The project involves collaboration with CESVI for field activities.