External actions: financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide

The European Parliament adopted by 577 votes to 17, with 18 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation and Regulation (EC) No 1889/2006 on establishing a financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide.

The Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure) amending the Commission’s proposal as follows:

Splitting of the proposal: the European Commission had proposed an amendment that is identical in both Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 (DCI Regulation) and Regulation (EC) No 1889/2006 (EIDHR Regulation. Parliament called for the Commission’s proposal to be split into two distinct legislative proposals (COD/2009/0060A et COD/2009/0060B), one for each financial instrument. This is why the plenary proposes a series of amendments that delete references to Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 in relation to the present proposal.

Delegated acts: following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament co-decides with the Council on virtually all legislation. This needs to be reflected in the area of the implementation of external cooperation financial instruments. As a result, strategy documents, annual action programmes, as well as their revisions or extensions, have to be adopted by means of delegated acts, giving the European Parliament a de facto right of veto, permitting it to require that the Commission presents amended proposals. A new comitology procedure has been established for this purpose (Article 17(a)).

Informing Parliament about actions the cost of which exceeds a certain amount: the plenary asks that where the cost of a measure is equal to or exceeds EUR 3 000 000, the Commission shall adopt it taking into account the opinions of the European Parliament and of the Council. However, for Special Measures costing below EUR 3 000 000, the Commission shall send the measures to the European Parliament and to the Council for information within 10 working days of adopting its decision.

Evaluation: the Commission shall send its evaluation reports to the European Parliament and to the Council for information. The results shall feed back into programme design and resource allocation.