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Implementation of the development cooperation instrument, the humanitarian aid instrument and the European development fund

2017/2258(INI)

The Committee on Development adopted the own-initiative report by Enrique GUERRERO SALOM (S&D, ES) on the implementation of the Development Cooperation Instrument, the Humanitarian Aid Instrument and the European Development Fund.

The report’s explanatory memorandum noted that the purpose of this report is to contribute to the review of the European Development Fund (EDF), the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) and the Humanitarian Aid Instrument (HAI), launched by the Commission to assess their appropriateness with regard to the objectives of EU development cooperation and humanitarian aid policies. Based on the analysis of the implementation, from January 2014 to June 2017, of the EDF and the DCI, the report makes a series of recommendations aimed at improving the functioning of the EDF and the DCI until the end of its term in 2020, as well as a number of proposals and recommendations regarding the new multiannual financial framework, which will be presented in the coming months by the European Commission, and with regard to which the Committee on Development will in due course have to exercise its role as co-legislator and political assessor. 

Findings of the mid-term review of implementation of the DCI, EDF and HAI: Members welcomed the fact that evaluations of the DCI, EDF and HAI show that these instruments’ objectives were largely relevant to the policy priorities at the time of their design and that they are generally fit for purpose and aligned with the values and objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, while some countries have experienced progress in poverty reduction and human and economic development over the last ten years, others the situation remains critical.

In their first years of implementation, the DCI and the EDF have enabled the EU to respond to new crises and needs thanks to the broad nature of the instruments’ objectives. However, a multiplication of crises and the emergence of new political priorities have put financial pressure on the DCI, the EDF and the HAI, and have stretched these instruments to their limits and have led to the decision to set up new ad hoc mechanisms such as trust funds, which are surrounded by serious concerns, namely over transparency, democratic accountability and their disconnection from development objectives.

Members emphasised that under no circumstances should the EU’s short-term (security or migration) domestic interests drive its development agenda, and that aid and development effectiveness principles should be fully respected and applied to all forms of development cooperation.

  • DCI: Members are concerned that the mid-term evaluation of the DCI points to the risk of a perceived lack of compliance with the requirement to allocate at least 20 % of assistance under the DCI to basic social services such as health, and to secondary education and other social services, when these needs are essential to the development of these countries.
  • EDF: the EDF has played an important role in addressing poverty eradication and the attainment of the SDGs. However, evidence of progress is weaker at regional level and that the EDF has not consistently established solid synergies and coherence across its national, regional and intra-ACP cooperation programmes.
  • HAI: Members are satisfied that the HAI has achieved its objective of providing aid in emergency situations on a basis of full respect of public international law, while ensuring that humanitarian aid is not instrumentalised and that the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence are respected. A number of humanitarian crises and disasters dealt with by the HAI has significantly increased in the last few years, which has led to the full use of the Emergency Aid Reserve and to the need to use additional funds. The report noted the need for a substantial increase in the Emergency Aid Reserve and for a swifter and more flexible use of all available resources.

Recommendations for the post-2020 architecture of the DCI and the EDF, and for the future implementation of the HAI: Members stressed the absolute necessity of maintaining separate development and humanitarian aid instruments respecting key development principles, in the light of the EDF and DCI evaluation findings concerning the lack of partnership and the threat to the central objective of poverty alleviation within the new framework of shifting policy priorities.

Irrespective of possible structural changes or mergers with regard to these instruments, including the possible budgetisation of the EDF, the overall appropriations for the next MFF should be increased. The future architecture of the EFIs should include a more transparent inclusion of trust funds and facilities.

The Council, the Commission and the European Investment Bank are invited to conclude an interinstitutional agreement with Parliament on transparency, accountability and parliamentary scrutiny on the basis of the policy principles set out in the new European Consensus on Development.

Members stressed that the post-2020 architecture of the DCI and the EDF and the implementation of the HAI must be aligned with the EU’s international commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the EU policy framework, including the new European Consensus on Development, the new Global Strategy for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy and the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid.

The Commission and the EEAS are called on to adequately combine assistance under the EFIs and political dialogue, both bilaterally and in the framework of regional and global organisations, in order to promote these principles, values and rights.

The post-2020 architecture of EFIs should continue to make provision for a mix of both geographic and thematic multiannual programmes, allowing for development actions on different scales. It should include a number of benchmarks and strict ring-fenced earmarking, as well as mainstreaming commitments to ensure sufficient funds for key priorities.