Two European Parliament committees have adopted their position on the proposal for a Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) (see EUROPE 12041).
On Monday 4 March, the Parliament's ‘Foreign Affairs’ and ‘Development’ committees adopted their common position on the proposal for a Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), by 46 votes to 6 with 10 abstentions.
The purpose of the instrument is to merge 10 existing EU external financing instruments. Once in place, it will be the EU's main instrument to foster cooperation with third countries in the neighbourhood and beyond, and to implement its international commitments arising from the 2030 sustainable development objectives and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
It is reported that the new instrument will also establish a framework for external investment (the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus), with the aim of mobilising additional private sector funding for sustainable development.
In their common position, MEPs suggest that the budget for the instrument should be €93.154 billion in current prices for the period 2021-2027, an increase of 4.4% compared to the European Commission's proposal (€89.2 billion).
They also propose that 45% of NDICI funds should go to support climate and environmental objectives.
MEPs want funds for human rights and democracy activities worldwide to be increased to at least €2 billion.
MEPs also believe that the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights must be a central objective of the EU's external action and that countries that are falling behind in these areas should have their funding suspended.
The European Parliament will vote in plenary session on the text at the second session in March, from 25 to 28 March. The NDICI will have to be agreed between the Parliament and the Council.
On the Council side, discussions are continuing at various levels, including that of the ad hoc working group. A group of high-level experts is currently being set up and will deliver an opinion on the development funding structure. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)