WIREDGOV

EU foreign-policy spending from 2014 will be more efficient, effective and democratically accountable, under new rules backed by foreign affairs MEPs on Thursday and development MEPs on Wednesday. The rules govern six foreign-policy funds for pre-accession, neighbouring and partner countries and peace-keeping, democracy and human-rights actions, worth over €51 billion.

The rules, agreed by Parliament and Council after 18 months of negotiations, enable the EU to fund measures ranging from support for independent media in Belarus, to conflict prevention in Africa or environmental projects in Latin America during the EU's next long-term budget period from 2014 to 2020.

MEPs have secured an important role in framing and programming projects. The next Parliament will also exercise full scrutiny over the funding under the mid-term review of the 2014-2020 budget. In addition, a strategic dialogue between Parliament and Commission will ensure that MEPs have a say on allocating funds, setting priorities and assessing results for each individual country.

The Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed the regulations on:

- The Common Implementing Rules (rapporteur Elmar BROK, EPP, DE), adopted by 45 votes, with 3 abstentions;

In the umbrella regulation that sets out common rules governing all the EU’s external financing tools, MEPs ensured that EU money spent outside the Union will be more visible, civil society will play a bigger role in drawing up and implementing projects and the different funds will be used more efficiently on the ground, complementing one another and avoiding spending overlaps. Parliament also increased the emphasis on upholding the EU’s values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

- Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (rapporteur Libor ROUČEK, S&D, CZ), adopted by 47 votes to 2, with 0 abstentions;

Parliament, now an equal partner with the member states in passing legislation on enlargement-related funding, pushed through an incentive scheme to reward countries for improving their performance in preparing for EU accession.

- European Neighbourhood Instrument (rapporteur Eduard KUKAN, EPP, SK), adopted by 46 votes to 1, with 1 abstention;

Thanks to Parliament, financial assistance to the EU's neighbours will be tied more closely to their actual achievements in carrying out reforms to build and deepen democracy, with rewards underpinning the "more for more" principle introduced during the 2011 review of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

- Partnership Instrument (rapporteur Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, EPP, ES), adopted by 47 votes to 0, with 2 abstentions;

Parliament also made sure that the Partnership Instrument will be an effective vehicle for promoting political and economic dialogue with countries relevant to the EU. Money from this fund will be spent on the basis of clearly identified thematic priorities, which will boost the positive impact of the EU's external action.

- Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (rapporteur Reinhard BÜTIKOFER, Greens/EFA, DE, adopted by 47 votes to 2, with 0 abstentions;

MEPs converted the existing Instrument for Stability into a new Instrument for Stability and Peace in order to establish a link between hard security and development. This new fund will be used to promote conflict prevention, mediation and peace-building.

- European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (rapporteur Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF, ALDE, DE), adopted by 44 votes to 1, with 4 abstentions.

Parliament made sure that the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights can provide funding without the consent of the non-EU countries in which it is used. It will also be tailored more to the needs of human rights defenders in difficult or dangerous situations.

The Development Committee endorsed the regulation on the:

- Instrument for Development Cooperation (rapporteur Thijs BERMAN, S&D, NL), adopted by 18 votes to 0, with 5 abstentions;

Under this instrument, Parliament will have more oversight over policy and financial allocations as well as a stronger role in the strategic decision-making on development policy. MEPs also ensured that at least 20% of the aid from this fund must be used for the provision of basic social services, with the focus on education and health.

Next steps

The full House is set to vote on the regulations on these six instruments during the December plenary session.

Background information

The financial envelopes for dedicated instruments for the period 2014 – 2020, in current prices (€)

Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance                  11,698,668,000

European Neighbourhood Instrument                        15,432,634,000

Partnership Instrument                                               954,765,000

Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace           2,338,719,000

Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights          1,332,752,000

Instrument for Development Cooperation                  19,622,000,000