Technical assistance and information exchange Programme TAIEX: extension to the countries eligible for the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument ENPI

 The committee adopted the report by Cecilia MALMSTRÖM (ALDE, SE) approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a few amendments:

- it should be clearly stated that one of the principles underlying the activities supported by the ENPI is the development and consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

- to ensure that Russia - which is included as a partner country in the ENPI - does not absorb the bulk of the available funding at the expense of others, the committee added  a new clause to Article 2 stipulating that "due regard shall be paid to the need to avoid the disproportionate allocation of funding to any individual country, to the detriment of the legitimate needs of other partners";

- a new Article 2a laid down the requirement for the Commission to forward relevant evaluations to Parliament for consideration. The evaluations should address "the effectiveness, transparency and accountability, both of management structures and of funded activities".