Budget support is controversial. But the debate about this form of aid is vital because it goes to the heart of the principles which lie behind our development policies. This booklet, authored by Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, and with a foreword by Jean Ping, President of the Commission of the African Union, aims to respond to the numerous questions raised by budget support as an instrument for development. It stresses that the instrument is modern and well adapted to the current challenges of development cooperation - in particular those of ownership, transparency, predictability and effectiveness. This booklet explains why budget support is in fact the best means of drawing up a genuine contract of confidence between partners for development.--Publisher's description.