BETA


2017/2280(INI) Implementation of the EU external financing instruments: mid-term review 2017 and the future post-2020 architecture

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET SCHAAKE Marietje (icon: ALDE ALDE) LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE Antonio (icon: PPE PPE), CRISTEA Andi (icon: S&D S&D), VISTISEN Anders (icon: ECR ECR), SOLÉ Jordi (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), CASTALDO Fabio Massimo (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion DEVE MCAVAN Linda (icon: S&D S&D)
Committee Opinion INTA LANGE Bernd (icon: S&D S&D)
Committee Opinion BUDG ARTHUIS Jean (icon: ALDE ALDE) Ivana MALETIĆ (icon: PPE PPE), Liadh NÍ RIADA (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2018/04/18
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2018/04/18
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 462 to 82, with Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) on the implementation of the EU external financing instruments: mid-term review 2017 and the future post-2020 architecture.

Between 2014 and 2020, the EU dedicated EUR 51.8 billion to its external action. A large share of this funding, EUR 32 billion, is disbursed through so-called external financial instruments. These consist of 9 different thematic and geographic instruments and a Common Implementing Regulation (CIR).

Mid-term review : Parliament noted that the Commission mid-term review found the current instruments to be generally fit for purpose . It regretted the:

lack of flexibility and coherence of the EU funding under Heading 4 of the current MFF have been indicative of the EU’s limited ambition to act as a genuine global player; lack of political guidance and overall vision , inconsistency in the application of EU values and partnership principles, slow progress in achieving social and legal reform objectives in the wider neighbourhood, lack of rigorous monitoring and evaluation; absence of a clear strategic document explaining the synergies between the instruments and their role in the Union's overarching foreign policy strategy; absence of explicit reference to the possibility of suspending aid if a beneficiary country fails to respect fundamental principles such as democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

EU Trust Funds were created to address the root causes of migration. Members regretted that the contributions from the EU budget to the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey have reduced the overall coherence, long-term vision and impact of the Union’s action. They stressed once again that new priorities must be financed with new appropriations and deeply regretted that Parliament was not formally consulted or asked to give its approval at any stage of the decision-making process in relation to the ‘Turkey statement’.

Parliament reiterated the need for the instruments to be complementary and adaptable to the local context, as well as able to respond to new and unforeseen challenges quickly and effectively.

Recommendations for 2017/2018-2020 : the resolution called for:

the establishment of solid, consistent and transparent monitoring and evaluation mechanisms ; enhanced parliamentary control and scrutiny procedures and systems that are consistent for all instruments; improved transparency through the creation of a single common transparent public database of projects and actions; additional financial resources and training support to civil society organisations (CSOs); mainstream a more strategic involvement of CSOs in all external instruments and programmes, as requested by both the Council and Parliament; the possibility to carry over unallocated ENI and IPA II funds, within a limit of 10 % of the initial appropriations for each instrument, in order to increase the capacity to respond to unforeseen events.

Post-2020 architecture : Members called for funding of external relations instruments to reflect ambitious external actions, and for the budget for the EU as a global player to be increased . They stressed that in the event of the United Kingdom withdrawing from the European Union, the current budget ratio destined for external action should be increased or at least maintained at current levels.

The resolution underlined the need for the predictability of long-term funding while also introducing set amounts to be used flexibly. Flexibility requires the possibility to transfer funds between envelopes .

Recalling the difficulties beneficiaries currently experience in securing funding under the instruments, Members called for a simplification of procedures, the easing of administrative burdens and, where possible, the adoption of unified procedures for the various Commission and EEAS services involved and the setting up of a one-stop-shop for organisations applying for EU funding and the use of digital solutions, where possible, to streamline and reduce bureaucratic burdens.

Members stressed that any restructuring of instruments should aim to improve transparency, accountability, efficiency, coherence and flexibility . They invited the Commission and the EEAS to propose a plan for the reform of the instruments that includes a solid governance structure. Parliament will not accept any reform of the instruments without this.

Documents
2018/04/18
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2018/04/17
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2018/03/26
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) on the implementation of the EU external financing instruments: mid-term review 2017 and the future post-2020 architecture.

Between 2014 and 2020, the EU dedicated EUR 51.8 billion to its external action. A large share of this funding, EUR 32 billion, is disbursed through so-called external financial instruments. These consist of 9 different thematic and geographic instruments and a Common Implementing Regulation (CIR).

Mid-term review : Members noted that the Commission mid-term review found the current instruments to be generally fit for purpose . They regretted that the quantity and lack of flexibility and coherence of the EU funding under Heading 4 of the current MFF have been indicative of the EU’s limited ambition to act as a genuine global player. However, the report noted that many of the partner countries and themes addressed by the EU EFIs have seen positive progress, which is testament to the relevance and importance of the EFIs.

Members noted that EU Trust Funds were created to address the root causes of migration. They regretted that the contributions from the EU budget to the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey have reduced the overall coherence, long-term vision and impact of the Union’s action. They stressed once again that new priorities must be financed with new appropriations and deeply regretted that Parliament was not formally consulted or asked to give its approval at any stage of the decision-making process in relation to the ‘Turkey statement’.

Members regretted the absence of a single clear vision document clarifying synergies between the instruments and how these feed into a global, overarching EU foreign policy strategy. The instruments should be complementary and adaptable to the local context, as well as able to respond to new and unforeseen challenges quickly and effectively.

They also regretted that the instruments do not contain any explicit reference to the possibility of suspending assistance in cases where a beneficiary country fails to observe such basic principles as democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Recommendations for 2017/2018-2020 : the report called for:

the establishment of solid, consistent and transparent monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; enhanced parliamentary control and scrutiny procedures and systems that are consistent for all instruments; improved transparency through the creation of a single common transparent public database of projects and actions; additional financial resources and training support to civil society organisations (CSOs); mainstream a more strategic involvement of CSOs in all external instruments and programmes, as requested by both the Council and Parliament; the possibility to carry over unallocated ENI and IPA II funds, within a limit of 10 % of the initial appropriations for each instrument, in order to increase the capacity to respond to unforeseen events;

Post-2020 architecture : Members called for funding of external relations instruments to reflect ambitious external actions, and for the budget for the EU as a global player to be increased . They stressed that in the event of the United Kingdom withdrawing from the European Union, the current budget ratio destined for external action should be increased or at least maintained at current levels.

Members underlined the need for the predictability of long-term funding while also introducing set amounts to be used flexibly. Flexibility requires the possibility to transfer funds between envelopes .

Recalling the difficulties beneficiaries currently experience in securing funding under the instruments, Members called for a simplification of procedures, the easing of administrative burdens and, where possible, the adoption of unified procedures for the various Commission and EEAS services involved and the setting up of a one-stop-shop for organisations applying for EU funding and the use of digital solutions, where possible, to streamline and reduce bureaucratic burdens.

Documents
2018/03/20
   EP - Vote in committee
2018/02/22
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/02/21
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/02/21
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/02/13
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2018/01/22
   EP - LANGE Bernd (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in INTA
2018/01/18
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2018/01/18
   EP - Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament
2018/01/12
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2017/10/09
   EP - ARTHUIS Jean (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in BUDG
2017/09/06
   EP - MCAVAN Linda (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in DEVE
2017/07/11
   EP - SCHAAKE Marietje (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

Votes

A8-0112/2018 - Marietje Schaake - am 1 18/04/2018 12:14:55.000 #

2018/04/18 Outcome: -: 344, +: 195, 0: 156
GB FR IT SE AT EL ?? IE CY FI LV MT EE LT DK LU SI HU ES PT HR CZ DE SK BE BG NL RO PL
Total
68
69
64
20
18
18
1
10
6
13
7
5
5
10
12
5
8
18
49
20
11
18
88
11
20
17
25
29
48
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
49

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Hungary Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
47

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

4

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3
icon: EFDD EFDD
39

Sweden EFDD

2

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

For (1)

1

Germany EFDD

For (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1
icon: S&D S&D
176

Greece S&D

3

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Finland S&D

2

Latvia S&D

1

Malta S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Abstain (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

Abstain (1)

1

Hungary S&D

For (1)

3

Croatia S&D

2

Czechia S&D

4

Slovakia S&D

3

Belgium S&D

For (1)

4

Netherlands S&D

3
icon: ENF ENF
33

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Belgium ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Poland ENF

2
icon: NI NI
18

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

3

France NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

NI

For (1)

1

Denmark NI

1
icon: ECR ECR
63

Italy ECR

2

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Cyprus ECR

Against (1)

1

Finland ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Czechia ECR

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Slovakia ECR

2
3

Bulgaria ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

2

Romania ECR

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
66

United Kingdom ALDE

Against (1)

1

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

Against (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Denmark ALDE

3

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Portugal ALDE

1

Croatia ALDE

2
4

Romania ALDE

2
icon: PPE PPE
202

United Kingdom PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Belgium PPE

Abstain (1)

4

A8-0112/2018 - Marietje Schaake - am 2 18/04/2018 12:15:08.000 #

2018/04/18 Outcome: -: 548, +: 131, 0: 13
SE AT CY ?? FI IE EE EL LV LU MT DK SI LT HR HU SK BE NL CZ BG DE PT ES RO FR GB PL IT
Total
20
18
6
1
12
10
5
19
7
5
5
12
8
10
11
18
12
20
24
18
17
86
20
49
29
69
67
48
64
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
50

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Hungary Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
47

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

4

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1
icon: NI NI
18

NI

Against (1)

1

Denmark NI

1

Hungary NI

Abstain (1)

3

France NI

2

United Kingdom NI

3
icon: ENF ENF
33

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

2
icon: EFDD EFDD
39

Sweden EFDD

2

Lithuania EFDD

Against (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Germany EFDD

For (1)

1
3

Poland EFDD

1
icon: ECR ECR
61

Cyprus ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Finland ECR

2

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

2
3

Netherlands ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Romania ECR

2

Italy ECR

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
66

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

Against (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Latvia ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

3

Slovenia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

2
4

Portugal ALDE

1

Romania ALDE

2

United Kingdom ALDE

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
175

Cyprus S&D

2

Finland S&D

2

Ireland S&D

Against (1)

1

Latvia S&D

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Denmark S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Croatia S&D

2

Hungary S&D

3

Netherlands S&D

3

Czechia S&D

4
icon: PPE PPE
201

Cyprus PPE

Against (1)

1

Finland PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Malta PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania PPE

2

Belgium PPE

Abstain (1)

4

United Kingdom PPE

2

A8-0112/2018 - Marietje Schaake - am 3 18/04/2018 12:15:38.000 #

2018/04/18 Outcome: -: 453, +: 207, 0: 39
IE SE AT FI DK CY ?? EL EE LT LV LU MT DE SI HR BE SK BG GB NL CZ PL HU PT ES RO FR IT
Total
10
20
18
13
12
6
1
19
5
10
7
5
5
88
8
11
20
12
17
69
25
18
48
18
20
49
30
69
64
icon: ECR ECR
63
2

Cyprus ECR

1

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Romania ECR

Against (1)

2

Italy ECR

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
50

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
47

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

4
icon: ENF ENF
33

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Belgium ENF

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Poland ENF

2
icon: NI NI
18

Denmark NI

1

NI

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3
3

France NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: EFDD EFDD
39

Sweden EFDD

2

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

Germany EFDD

For (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1
3
icon: ALDE ALDE
66

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Finland ALDE

Abstain (1)

4

Denmark ALDE

3

Estonia ALDE

3

Latvia ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1
4

Slovenia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

2

United Kingdom ALDE

Against (1)

1

Portugal ALDE

1

Romania ALDE

2
icon: S&D S&D
178

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Finland S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Slovenia S&D

Against (1)

1

Croatia S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

For (1)

Against (2)

3

Czechia S&D

For (1)

4

Hungary S&D

3
icon: PPE PPE
203

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

3

Malta PPE

2

Belgium PPE

Abstain (1)

4

United Kingdom PPE

2

A8-0112/2018 - Marietje Schaake - résolution 18/04/2018 12:15:52.000 #

2018/04/18 Outcome: +: 462, 0: 151, -: 82
DE IT ES RO PL FR BG PT NL CZ BE HU SE HR SK FI LT DK AT SI EE MT LV CY LU IE GB ?? EL
Total
86
64
49
30
48
69
17
20
25
18
19
18
20
11
12
13
10
12
18
8
5
5
7
6
5
10
69
1
19
icon: PPE PPE
200

Lithuania PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

1

Luxembourg PPE

Against (1)

3

United Kingdom PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
178

Netherlands S&D

3

Croatia S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
66

Romania ALDE

2

Portugal ALDE

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Latvia ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom ALDE

1
icon: ECR ECR
63

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Bulgaria ECR

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2
3

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

2

Finland ECR

Against (1)

2

Lithuania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Cyprus ECR

1

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
50

Italy Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

France Verts/ALE

For (1)

6

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Slovenia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

6
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
47

Italy GUE/NGL

3

Portugal GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Ireland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
18

France NI

2
3

Denmark NI

1

United Kingdom NI

Against (2)

Abstain (1)

3

NI

For (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
39

Germany EFDD

Against (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1
3

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2

Lithuania EFDD

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ENF ENF
33

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

2

Netherlands ENF

3

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
343 2017/2280(INI)
2018/01/24 DEVE 40 amendments...
source: 616.785
2018/02/05 BUDG 23 amendments...
source: 618.051
2018/02/13 AFET 280 amendments...