The European Commission has officially endorsed the Seville Declaration on Domestic Revenue Mobilisation. It marks a significant step forward in global efforts to strengthen countries’ capacity to generate sustainable, fair and transparent public revenues.
The Seville Declaration was launched in summer 2025 at the Fourth Financing for Development Conference in Seville, where international partners gathered to advance collective action on financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is a prominent initiative under the Sevilla Platform for Action, co-led by the European Union, Germany, Madagascar, Norway and The Gambia. Developed by the members of the Addis Tax Initiative (ATI), the Declaration sets a renewed and ambitious vision to boost domestic revenue mobilisation (DRM) beyond 2025.
Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said: “Domestic revenue mobilisation is about fairness, about trust, and about giving governments the means to invest in key national priorities, such as education, public health, and job creation. The Seville Declaration sends a strong signal: we must deepen our partnerships and strengthen the tools that allow countries to finance their own development. The EU is proud to endorse this ambitious declaration and to stand with our partners in shaping fiscal systems that are green, digital, gender-responsive, and fit for the future.”
In many partner countries, fiscal space has contracted due to slower growth, higher debt burdens and rising financing costs. The EU’s commitment to DRM seeks to help countries rebuild that space through fair and effective taxation, sound public financial management, and more efficient and equitable fiscal systems.
A renewed commitment to sustainable financing
The Declaration emphasises four key priorities:
1. Supporting the enhanced mobilisation of domestic revenues on the basis of fair, gender-responsive and environmentally-sensitive tax policies, implemented by efficient tax administrations
Taking into account countries’ capacity constraints, the EU supports modernised fiscal systems that integrate climate objectives, gender equality and digital tools to make revenue collection more efficient and transparent in partner countries.
2. Continuing support for country-led tax reforms in partner countries
The EU will maintain its financial and technical support for DRM efforts in partner countries for another five years, focusing on fair, transparent and accountable tax systems. This support, which the EU and other ATI development partners recommit to at least double from its 2015 level, is critical for partner countries striving to meet the SDGs.
3. Strengthening international cooperation to combat tax evasion, tax avoidance and illicit financial flows
Illicit financial flows, whether related to tax, corruption, or criminal activity, deprive governments of revenue that is essential for their sustainable development. The EU—together with four of its Member States (Germany, Finland, France and Sweden), the African Union and local partners—has already launched over 70 programmes across Africa worth €450 million to tackle these challenges.
4. Enhancing space and capacity for DRM accountability stakeholders in partner countries
The EU will continue to promote greater public participation and scrutiny in tax matters and to protect the role of state and non-state stakeholders in strengthening the transparency and accountability of fiscal systems.
Through the Declaration, the EU also demonstrates its determination to improve the quality and efficiency of public spending. Transparent and competitive public procurement, sound budgeting and responsible public investment are essential to deliver quality services to citizens while attracting private investment. The EU continues to support comprehensive fiscal reforms that address both revenue and expenditure, in line with the ‘Collect More, Spend Better’ approach.
EU leadership through the Addis Tax Initiative
The EU is member of the Addis Tax Initiative alongside twelve of it its Member States: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden. Since 2015, the ATI has brought together 78 partner countries, development partners and organisations, and has played a central role in shaping the global DRM agenda. The Seville Declaration builds on the 2021 ATI Declaration 2025 and aligns closely with the priorities of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4).
A call for global engagement
The EU remains the world’s largest provider of DRM support. With the endorsement of the Seville Declaration, it signals its readiness to work with governments, civil society, the private sector and international partners to advance fairer, more efficient and more sustainable fiscal systems worldwide.
The Commission encourages all ATI members and global partners to join in endorsing the Seville Declaration and supporting its implementation to advance sustainable financing for development.
