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Instrument contributing to stability and peace (2014-2020)

2011/0413(COD)

PURPOSE: to establish an instrument contributing to stability and peace for the period 2014-2020 following on from the Stability Instrument for the period 2007-2013.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) No 230/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an instrument contributing to stability and peace.

BACKGROUND: this Regulation is placed within the framework of the new multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020 applicable to the Union’s external policy and cooperation with third countries. The measures provided are the following:

All of the procedures for the implementation of these instruments would be governed by specific Regulation adopted at the same time.

CONTENT: this Regulation aims to introduce an instrument contributing to stability and peace for the period 2014-2020, in order to increase the efficiency and coherence of the Union's actions in the areas of:

·        crisis response,

·        conflict prevention,

·        peace-building and crisis preparedness,

·        addressing global and trans-regional security threats.

The Union shall undertake development cooperation measures, as well as financial, economic and technical cooperation measures, with third countries, regional and international organisations and other State and civil society actors (as laid down in this Regulation).

The specific objectives: the specific objectives of this Regulation shall be the following:

  • in a situation of crisis or emerging crisis, to contribute swiftly to stability by providing an effective response designed to help preserve, establish or re-establish the conditions essential to the proper implementation of the Union's external policies and actions;
  • to contribute to the prevention of conflicts and to ensuring capacity and preparedness to address pre- and post-crisis situations and build peace;
  • to address specific global and trans-regional threats to peace, international security and stability.

For each of the above objectives, details are specified to define the type of actions that can be financed, in particular:

1.      for situations of crisis or emerging crisis with a view to preventing conflict, the provision of technical and logistical assistance, for the efforts undertaken by international and regional organisations and by State and civil society actors in promoting confidence-building, mediation, dialogue and reconciliation and support for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions;

2.      for conflict prevention and peace building actions, actions of deployment in civilian stabilisation missions and improving post-conflict recovery as well as post-disaster recovery with relevance to the political and security situation in the countries concerned;

3.      for actions addressing global and trans-regional threats and emerging threats, strengthening the capacity of law enforcement and judicial and civil authorities involved in the fight against terrorism, organised crime, including cyber-crime, by offering targeted support, particularly in the context of the protection of critical infrastructure.

Financial envelope: in line with the multiannual financial framework for the period 2014-2020, the financial envelope for the implementation of the Peace and Stability Instrument shall be EUR 2 338 719 000.

It is also planned that:

  • 70% of this envelope shall be allocated to actions for situations of crisis or emerging crisis with a view to preventing conflict, and
  • at least nine percentage points of the financial envelope shall be allocated to measures falling under actions of conflict prevention, peace building and crisis preparation.

Programming and implementation: the EU aid would be implemented through:

  • exceptional assistance measures and interim response programmes;
  • thematic strategy papers and multiannual indicative programmes;
  • annual action programmes, individual measures and special measures;
  • support measures.

All of these measures are described in detail in the Regulation. Most of the implementing rules for this Regulation are those laid down in the Instruments for financing external action to implement EU external policy.

Coherence and complementarity: the Union should seek the most efficient use of available resources in order to optimise the impact of its external action. That should be achieved through coherence and complementarity between the Union's instruments for external action, as well as the creation of synergies between this instrument, other Union instruments for financing external action and other policies of the Union.

Union assistance under this Regulation shall be provided only to the extent that an adequate and effective response cannot be provided under those other instruments.

The Commission would also be called on to strengthen the coordination of initiatives financed by other donors while avoiding double funding.

Cross-cutting issues: where possible, the following cross-cutting issues shall be included, including in programming:

  • promotion of democracy and good governance;
  • human rights and humanitarian law, including children's rights and the rights of indigenous peoples;
  • non-discrimination;
  • gender equality;
  • conflict prevention;
  • climate change.

Civil society: where possible and where appropriate, the preparation, programming, implementation and monitoring measures under this Regulation shall be carried out, in consultation with civil society.

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. It should develop operational guidance to ensure that human rights are taken into consideration in the design and implementation of the measures referred taken.

Dialogue with the European Parliament: provisions were made in a Commission statement in which the latter undertakes to report to the European Parliament as part of a strategic dialogue on actions taken.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16.03.2014. The Regulation shall apply from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2020.