On Thursday 30 November, the European Parliament approved the inter-institutional agreement reached in mid-October on the future instrument contributing to stability and peace (IcSP), by adopting the report by Arnaud Danjean (EPP, France) by a strong majority (473 votes in favour to 163 against with 81 abstentions).
Nearly all the Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL MEPs voted against. The ambassadors to the EU of the 28-member states had given their agreement to this at the end of October (see EUROPE 11893).
The IcSP will be increased by €100 million (out of a basic budget of €2.3 billion until 2020) in order to support civil missions of the military in third countries. These missions include training, management and advice for military forces on human rights and the supply of non-lethal equipment or infrastructure (IT systems and hospitals).
The Parliament accepted the joint declaration agreed with the member states on the financing – the main subject of negotiation at the inter-institutional dialogue. It was concerned that the €100 million might be drawn from the funds reserved for development.
Annexed to the regulation, and not legally binding, this declaration states that the strengthening of capacities should be financed by Heading 4 on external relations as part of the multi-annual financial framework, mainly through redeployment, which should not include the use of loans granted for measures relating to the regulation establishing an instrument for financing development cooperation for the 2014-2020 period. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)