External actions: financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised and other high-income countries and territories

The Commission states that it can accept the text as it was agreed between the three institutions during the trilogues which took place in October and November 2010 The text contains some 20 amendments to the Commission proposal.

The Commission cannot accept the Articles relating to delegated acts and comitology issues. The Commission cannot accept Article 16 on the financial provisions which states that DCI money cannot be used to fund the ICI Plus. This amendment is not acceptable. The decision on the source of funding is the prerogative of the budgetary authority when it adopts each year the budget. It cannot be part of a legislative act. The Article has to adhere to standard provisions as set out in every financial instrument. However, in order to facilitate agreement and re-assure the institutions, the Commission is ready to make a statement, recalling that the financial reference amount fixed in Article 16 for countries listed in Annex II will be implemented using dedicated budget lines which are intended for activities other than Official Development Assistance. 

The discussions with the co-legislators shall continue after the second reading, in order to work on a consensual solution preferably giving Parliament substantive scrutiny rights for the remainder of the current Multiannual Programming Period and leaving options open for the next one, including the possibility of having recourse to delegated acts while fully respecting the criteria established in Article 290 TFEU.