The European Parliament's Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Development (DEVE) jointly gave their green light on Tuesday 8 October to the opening of interinstitutional negotiations on the proposal for a regulation establishing the single financial instrument Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation (NDICI) in the EU's future 2021-2027 budget.
This green light was voted by a large majority (72 votes in favour, 15 against) out of 87 voters (71 AFET deputies and 26 DEVE). The required majority was 49 votes.
David Mac Allister (EPP, Germany), Chairman of the AFET Committee, and Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden), Chairman of the DEVE Committee, spoke of a "very important legislative proposal as it will determine how assistance to non-Member States will be spent".
NDICI merges most of the EU's external financing instruments, including the European Development Fund (see EUROPE 12259/2).
The budget proposed by the European Parliament is 93.154 billion euros (almost 4 billion euros more than what has been proposed by the Commission).
"We look forward to the start of negotiations as soon as possible", said Mr Tobé. A first trilogue is planned before the end of the year under the Finnish Presidency. Parliament's position, adopted last March, will serve as a basis for the negotiations (see EUROPE 12223/7).
The co-rapporteurs are Michael Gahler (EPP, Germany), Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium), Rasa Juknevičienė (EPP, Lithuania), Charles Goerens (Renew Europe, Luxembourg), Željana Zovko (EPP, Croatia) and Tonino Picula (S&D, Croatia). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)