Instrument contributing to stability and peace (2014-2020)

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Reinhard BUTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Instrument for Stability (IfS).

The committee recommended that the European Parliaments position at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure, should amend the Commission proposal.

The main amendments were as follows :

General objective: the objective of the IfS II is to contribute to Stability and Peace which provides, for the period 2014-2020, direct support for the Union's external policies by increasing the efficiency and coherence of the Union's actions in the areas of conflict prevention, crisis preparedness and crisis response and peacebuilding, and in addressing global and transregional threats.

Civil society and NGOs as defined in the draft Regulation should seek to contribute to the preparing, programming, implementation and monitoring of Union assistance.

Types of assistance: the draft Regulation proposes the types of Union assistance to be financed. These should also take into account the following variables:

• the gender dimension and womens rights,
• compliance with international regulations (including the UN resolutions);
• dialogue with the respective parties;
• the fight against certain threats and emerging including terrorism and cyber-crime.

Exceptional Assistance Measures and Interim Response Programmes: Union assistance should be carried out through Exceptional Assistance Measures and Interim Response Programmes. Exceptional Assistance Measures may be extended twice. Where an Exceptional Assistance Measure costs more than EUR 20 000 000, it shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to the Common Implementing Regulation. The European Parliament should be informed of the measures taken in this context.

General framework: Union assistance should be implemented in accordance with the Common Implementing Regulation and through programming documents and financial implementation measures.

Respect of human rights: the Commission should ensure that measures adopted under this Regulation in relation to the fight against terrorism and organised crime are implemented in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law whilst paying particular attention to the prevention of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

Implementation: provisions have been included to clarify the technical implementation of the IfS II in terms of its strategic planning and programming.

European External Action Service: the Commission and the EEAS, as appropriate, should hold regular and frequent exchanges of views and information with the European Parliament.

Financial envelope: in accordance with the agreement on the Financial Framework, the financial envelope for the implementation of this Regulation over the period 2014 to 2020 is set at EUR 2 338 719 000. Specific percentage points of the financial envelope should be allocated to specific measures of the Programme.

It is also stated that the EU should seek the most efficient use of available resources through, in particular, the use of financial instruments with leverage effect, but without compromising the just and fair use of the Union's resources.

Union assistance under this Regulation should be consistent and coherent with the implementation of the other external instruments, and coordinated with bilateral aid provided by Member States, regional and local actors and international organisations. The Commission should ensure that overlaps are avoided and that the financing is transparent as between actions and instruments.

It should be noted that the amend draft Regulation is accompanied by a statement by the Commission on the conditions of the strategic dialogue with the European Parliament prior to its programming.