Community external assistance: rules for the access to external assistance instruments, for the eligibility and the origin

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Michael GAHLER (EPP-ED, DE) and made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal:

-the untying of aid should have a focus on empowering local and regional suppliers of goods and services in developing countries;

-Parliament has previously called explicitly for "a clear preference for local and regional cooperation, prioritising - in ranking order - suppliers from the recipient country, neighbouring developing countries and other developing countries", in order to strengthen the efforts of the recipient countries to improve their own production at national, regional, local and family level, as well as actions aiming at improving the availability and accessibility to the public of foodstuffs and basic services, consistent with local habits and production and trading systems.

-When awarding tenders under a Community instrument, special consideration will be given to respect for internationally agreed core labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO), e.g. the conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining, elimination of forced and compulsory labour, elimination of discrimination with respect to employment and occupation, and abolition of child labour;

-When awarding tenders under a Community instrument, special consideration will be given to respect for the following internationally agreed environmental conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of 2000 and the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1997;

-Access by developing countries to Community external assistance shall be enabled by all technical assistance deemed appropriate.