In general, a country or regional strategy paper is designed to cover a five-year period.

Approximately half way through this period, a mid-term review is carried out for each of the CSPs and RSPs. The aim of the mid-term review is to keep the strategy up-to-date with developments in the countries and regions and to adjust the priorities laid out in the CSPs and RSPs accordingly.

Shortly before the five-year period expires, the Commission services begin the process of revision of the Country and Regional Strategy Papers which involves, inter alia, the revision of the EC strategy and consultations in the field with various actors. This process concludes with the drafting of a new CSP which will cover a further five year period.

As the CSPs and RSPs produced in 2001 will expire soon, the process of revision of the CSPs and RSPs has already finished in ALA, MEDA, TACIS and CARDS countries (see the CSP drafting process in countries under DG Relex's responsibility) In ACP countries, where the coverage of the current CSPs and RSPs will last until 2007, the process of revision started in early 2006(see the CSP drafting process countries under DG Development's responsibility) The new Strategy Papers will cover the period 2008-2013 and set out the main priorities for funding towards the ACP countries and regions with a total of 22.8 billion Euros being provided in the 10th EDF.