MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Budget (BUDG) took stock, on Tuesday 13 February, of the €6 billion growth plan for the Western Balkan countries announced by the European Commission on 16 October (see EUROPE 13282/2, 13288/2). With the deadline for the tabling of amendments set for 15 February, the majority of MEPs insisted on the importance of the conditionality instrument in the context of the allocation of envelopes.
“We want to emphasise conditionality in the proposal. Each beneficiary is judged on their own merits”, explained Tonino Picula (S&D, Croatian), who sees progress in terms of reforms, the Rule of law, fundamental rights, economic governance and institution-building as sine qua non conditions for releasing funds to countries in the region.
In addition to the specific allocation of the six billion euro envelope (see EUROPE 13345/29) – two billion in grants and four in the form of loans, the money for which would initially be raised on the financial markets – other MEPs, such as Karlo Ressler (EPP, Croatian), have expressed their concerns about the funds not committed to the Western Balkan states that are late in meeting the criteria, and their redistribution to the good performers.
“We want clearer evaluation and greater transparency when uncommitted funds are redistributed”, insisted Mr Ressler (EPP, Croatian).
“We must establish very clear conditionality for the implementation of reforms and ensure that the EU’s interests are protected. Clear mechanisms must be put in place to take account of redistribution in the event of underperformance”, added Željana Zovko (EPP, Croatian).
As the issue of monitoring was central to MEPs’ concerns, some of them also insisted on the need to set up an audit board that would be required to produce reports. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) could be involved in the monitoring process.
Ms Zovko also claimed that the pre-accession fund (see EUROPE 13264/7) for the Western Balkans should remain the main mechanism. On this point, the Commission has given assurances that the future growth plan will “complete the process in terms of economic governance”, and not replace the pre-accession instrument.
A number of MEPs also called for greater inclusion of the various existing levels of governance in the growth plan, such as local authorities and mayors, but also NGOs and civil society; for inspiration to be drawn from the financing mechanism set up by the EU for Ukraine; and, like Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (Greens/EFA, German), for greater ambition in the fight against corruption. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)