Instrument contributing to stability and peace: military actors (2017-2020)

The European Parliament adopted by 473 votes to 163, with 7 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 230/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument contributing to stability and peace.

The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Capacity building of military actors in support of development and security for development: Union assistance under this Regulation could cover the provision of capacity building programmes in support of development and security for development, including training, mentoring and advice on, for example, human rights, governance and the rule of law, the protection of women and children, civilian crisis response, human resources management and technical cooperation.

Assistance shall be provided only:

• where requirements cannot be met by recourse to non-military actors to adequately reach Union objectives under this Regulation and there is a threat to the existence of functioning State institutions or to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and State institutions cannot cope with that threat; and
• where a consensus exists between the partner country concerned and the Union that military actors are key for preserving, establishing or re-establishing the conditions essential for sustainable development, including in crises and fragile or destabilised contexts and situations.

Union assistance shall not be used to finance capacity building of military actors for purposes other than the delivery of development activities and security for development activities.

A further amount of EUR 100 million shall be added to the financial envelope established by the Regulation for the period 2014-2020 to finance these measures.

Monitoring and assessment: the Commission is to monitor measures under this Regulation closely and keep the European Parliament duly informed about the implementation of Union assistance. No later than 30 June 2020, the Commission is to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of measures pursuant to this Regulation.

Declaration concerning sources of funding of assistance measures: the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission agree that capacity building in support of development and security for development should be financed within Heading IV of the multiannual financial framework (Global Europe) for the years 2014-2020, primarily through redeployments, while preserving the financial balance among all instruments to the maximum extent possible.