External assistance: a financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised countries and territories and other high-income countries and territories

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by David MARTIN (PES, UK) and made some amendments to the proposal that were aimed at bringing it into line with other external instruments, through a review clause, a human rights/democracy clause and strengthening of the role of Parliament with regard to evaluation, reporting mechanisms and its involvement in multiannual cooperation programmes. The financial reference amount for the implementation of this Regulation for the period from 2007 to 2013 will be EUR 172 million.

The principal amendments were as follows:

- the Community's cooperation should contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law, and to the objective of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms;

- in order to achieve the objectives of the Regulation a differentiated approach should be pursued depending on economic, social and political contexts, pursuing cooperation with partner countries or regions with specific, tailor-made programmes, based on their specific situation as well as on the Community's specific interests, strategies and priorities;

- Parliament emphasised greater complementarity and better harmonisation, alignment and coordination of procedures, both between the Community and its Member States and in relations with other actors;

- any amendment to the list in the Annex resulting from the regular OECD/DAC reviews of its List of developing countries shall be notified by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council before the Commission adopts the required modifications;

- a new clause is inserted on protecting the Community’s financial interests;

- a limited proportion of the annual budget shall be used to finance evaluation studies of the actions and programmes undertaken in the framework of the Regulation;

- by 31 December 2010, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report evaluating the implementation of this Regulation in the first three years with, if appropriate, a legislativeproposal introducing the necessary modifications.