The European Union has stated to step up efforts to integrate the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law into all areas of external action and that supporting democracy will be in the EU’s strategic interest. The way this emphasis on democracy will be implemented depends on the finalization of the new EU instrument for external action, the »Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument« (NDICI). In his policy brief Nathan Vandeputte (Ghent University) asks how much room for manoeuvre will the NDICI leave for democracy support in Sub-Saharan Africa. In his conclusions the author criticizes the new EU financial instrument for not providing adequate guarantees to rejuvenate EU democracy support. For sub-Saharan Africa in particular, it remains unclear what importance will be given to democracy or how democracy will be supported. Vandeputte outlines several recommendations to make the NDICI a better tool for democracy support.