External actions: financing instrument for stability
The European Parliament adopted by 564 votes to 41, with 6 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1717/2006 establishing an Instrument for Stability.
The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (former co-decision procedure) which amends the Commission’s proposal as follows:
Delegated acts: following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in force, Parliament's democratic scrutiny is strengthened, not only of EU legislation passed via the ordinary legislative procedure (co-decision with the Council), but also for the purpose of monitoring the Commission's implementation of the EU financial instruments for external co-operation. Accordingly, country strategy papers for thematic programmes and multiannual indicative programmes drafted by the Commission for the external co-operation instruments shall be adopted by means of delegated acts. Delegated acts are a streamlined system, introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, for delegating to the European Commission the power to make minor changes to EU laws when needed. This would give the European Parliament a de facto veto, by enabling it to block these papers and programmes and require the Commission to present amended proposals. A new comitology procedure is therefore established to this effect (article 22a).
Assistance to civil society: Parliament considers that civil society should be granted support not only in crisis situations, as stated in the original Instrument for Stability, but also in the long-term in context of stable conditions for cooperation in the area of pre- and post-crisis building. Accordingly, it asks for specific aid to develop and organise civil society and its participation in the political process, including measures to enhance the role of women in such processes and measures to promote independent, pluralist and professional media.
Peace Building: Parliament considers that the Instrument for Stability should make a reference to the EU Peace-building Partnership, already established by the Commission in the field of pre- and post-crisis capacity building. In parallel, Parliament provides that no more than 10% (rather than 5%) of the financial envelope shall be allocated to measures falling under Article 4(3) (pre- and post-crisis capacity building) provided the increase is in line with the current review of the EU Peace-building Partnership and internal resources.
Information from the European Parliament and the Council on certain measures exceeding large amounts: plenary calls on the Commission to inform it and the Council - within a specified time limit - of certain measures exceeding more than EUR 5 million. Special measures costing more than EUR 5 million shall be adopted by the Commission taking into account the opinions of the European Parliament and of the Council. Where an Exceptional Assistance Measure is costing more than EUR 20 million, that measure shall be adopted by the Commission taking into account the opinions of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Evaluation: Parliament calls on the Commission to regularly evaluate the results and efficiency of policies and programmes and the effectiveness of programming in order to ascertain whether the objectives have been met and enable it to formulate recommendations with a view to improving future operations. The Commission shall send for discussion significant evaluation reports to the European Parliament and to the Council. These results shall feed back into programme design and resource allocation.