PURPOSE: to establish a new European Neighbourhood\nInstrument 2014-2020 in the framework of the reform of the EU\nexternal action financial instruments and following on from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership\nInstrument 2007-2013.
\nPHILOSOPHY AND ACTION PLAN FOR EXTERNAL AID 2014-2020:\nwhat happens outside the borders of the EU can and does directly\naffect the prosperity and security of EU citizens. It is therefore\nin the interest of the EU to be actively engaged in influencing the\nworld around us, including through the use of financial\ninstruments. The Lisbon Treaty marks, in this regard, a new\ndeparture in the EU’s relations with the rest of the\nworld.
\nThe EU's engagement needs to be tailored to\nindividual circumstances. Its partners range from development\neconomies to the least developed countries in need of specific\nassistance from the EU.
\nIn general, the overall objective for external action\nfor the period 2014-2020 may be summarised as follows:
\nA\nmajor rationalisation of the instruments took place in 2003 and has\nbegun to deliver more effective results. The Commission does not\nconsider that another major alteration of the legislative\narchitecture is necessary for the next MFF period, although\nsome improvements are being proposed and the overall investment is\nbeing stepped up.
\nThe Commission proposes to allocate EUR 70 billion\nfor the 2014-2020 period for external instruments broken down as\nfollows:
\nIn parallel and for the first time, the Commission\nproposes a single horizontal regulation establishing common rules and\nprocedures for the implementation of the\nUnion’s instruments for external action.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)\nwas developed in 2004 and covers 16 partners to the East and South\nof the EU’s borders. Under the ENP the EU offers its\nneighbours a privileged
\nrelationship, building upon a mutual commitment to\nvalues and principles such as democracy and human rights, the rule\nof law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable\ndevelopment, including climate action. The policy also provides for\npolitical association and deeper economic integration, increased\nmobility and enhanced people-to-people contacts.
\nArab Spring: changes to\nthe EU’s relationship with its neighbours and developments\nsince the ENP was set up have been analysed and assessed as part of\nthe ENP Strategic Review. As a result, a new ENP vision has been\ndeveloped as outlined in the Joint Communication of the High\nRepresentative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy\nand the European Commission ’A new response to a changing\nNeighbourhood’. The new approach calls\nnotably for greater support to partners committed to building\ndemocratic societies and undertaking reforms, in line with the\n“more for more” and \"mutual accountability\" principles,\nand provides the strategic policy framework for the EU relations\nwith the neighbours.
\nReform of the ENPI:\nalthough the ENPI has been widely recognized as a successful\nInstrument to accompany the EU’s policy towards its\nneighbours, the ENP policy review and other assessments, lessons\nlearned and public consultations have all identified a number of\nissues to tackle in the future by adapting the Instrument to make\nthe EU’s response even more effective, in\nparticular:
\nThe future European Neighbourhood Instrument should be\naligned to the new ENP vision and address the specific challenges\nand issues as identified above.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: the impact assessment reviewed the\nfollowing four options:
\nBased on the analysis, Option 2 would have the\nhighest potential to yield a positive impact and to adapt the\ncurrent cooperation framework to the new policy context, ENP\nobjectives and challenges identified through evaluations and\nlessons learned. This if therefore the preferred\noption.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 209(1) and Article 212(2)\nof the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: with this proposed Regulation,\nthe Commission proposes to establish assistance to the partner\ncountries listed below with the aim of establishing an area of\nprosperity and good neighbourliness at the EU’s\nborders.
\nPartner countries:
\nSpecific objectives of Union’s\nsupport: support under this\nRegulation shall promote enhanced political cooperation and\nprogressive economic integration between the Union and the partner\ncountries and,
\nin particular, the implementation of partnership and\ncooperation agreements, association agreements or other existing\nand future agreements, and jointly agreed action plans.
\nUnion support should target in particular:
\nUnion support may also be used in other areas when\nthis is consistent with the overall objectives of the European\nNeighbourhood Policy.
\nThe achievement of these objectives shall be measured\nusing notably the relevant EU periodic reports on the\nimplementation of the policy and the relevant indicators\nestablished by international organisations and other relevant\nbodies.
\nFramework strategy: the\nkey elements of the proposal (as compared to the current set-up)\nand their rationale are the following:
\nStrategic framework and indicative\nprogramming: the scope of the\nInstrument has been streamlined by bringing down the 29 thematic\nareas that feature in the current ENPI Regulation to six specific\nobjectives. A new, simplified programming tool for most of the\nneighbouring countries (Single Support Framework) has been\nintroduced. This new programming document will be shorter than the\nStrategy Papers
\nand Multiannual Indicative Programmes, will prevent\nduplication of information contained in the legal/political\ndocuments that underpin EU relations with its neighbours, and\nshould help shorten the programming process, therefore reducing\nadministrative costs.
\nThe new article that allows funds from the ENI and the\nrelevant internal Heading of the EU budget to be pooled with a\nsingle set of rules for measures addressing notably cross-border\nchallenges will substantially improve efficiency and reduce the\nadministrative costs of implementing such measures.
\nSimplified\nimplementation:\nto implement the new ENI Regulation,\nsimplified and flexible procedures should lead to swifter adoption\nof implementing measures and swifter delivery of EU assistance, in\nparticular in situations of crises or threats to democracy, the\nrule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, or natural or\nman-made disasters. Revision of the Financial Regulation, which has\nparticularly substantial provisions on external action, will also\nhelp facilitate the participation of civil society organisations\nand small businesses in funding programmes. The Commission intends\nto implement this Regulation using the new flexible procedures\nprovided for in the new Financial Regulation.
\nFurthermore additional simplification will also be\nachieved through the development of one horizontal framework regulation comprising\nall general and recurring provisions, providing\nfor increased coherence between the external actions\ninstruments.
\nCoherence and complementarity: in implementing this Regulation, coherence shall be\nensured with other areas of the Union external action as well as\nother relevant Union policies. Other measures are provided to\nensure donor coordination.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the European Commission in its\nCommunication of 29 June 2011 entitled “A Budget for Europe\n2020” proposed allocating to the ENI EUR 18 182 300 000\n(current prices) for the period 2014-2020.
\nDELEGATED ACTS: delegated powers to adopt acts in\naccordance with Article 290 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the\nEuropean Union should be conferred to the Commission for adopting\nthe specific implementing measures required for the Cross-Border\nCooperation mechanisms established in Title III of this Regulation.\nThe Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts,\nshould further ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate\ntransmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and\nCouncil.
\nIn order to ensure uniform conditions for the\nimplementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be\nconferred on the Commission. Taking into account the nature of\nthose implementing acts, in particular their policy orientation\nnature or their financial implications, the examination procedure\nshould in principle be used for their adoption, except for measures\nof a small financial scale.
\nThe Council adopted\nconclusions on the European Neighbourhood Policy package,\ntaking stock of progress made regarding several political\ninstruments in this field, such as the Eastern Partnership between\nthe Union and its Eastern neighbours:
\nIn its conclusion,\nthe Council the Council welcomes the joint Communication of the\nHigh Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the\nEuropean Commission which reports on the substantial progress made\nin the delivery of the new European Neighbourhood Policy. It\nwelcomes the good progress made in advancing the Partnership for\nDemocracy and Shared Prosperity with the countries of the Southern\nMediterranean and looks forward to the implementation of the\nRoadmap accompanying the joint Communication, in dialogue and\ncooperation with partners, also with the aim of developing\nsynergies with the Union for the Mediterranean and other regional\ninitiatives.
\nIt also welcomes\nboth the good progress made in the implementation of the Eastern\nPartnership.
\nPURPOSE: to establish a new European Neighbourhood\nInstrument 2014-2020 in the framework of the reform of the EU\nexternal action financial instruments and following on from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership\nInstrument 2007-2013.
\nPHILOSOPHY AND ACTION PLAN FOR EXTERNAL AID 2014-2020:\nwhat happens outside the borders of the EU can and does directly\naffect the prosperity and security of EU citizens. It is therefore\nin the interest of the EU to be actively engaged in influencing the\nworld around us, including through the use of financial\ninstruments. The Lisbon Treaty marks, in this regard, a new\ndeparture in the EU’s relations with the rest of the\nworld.
\nThe EU's engagement needs to be tailored to\nindividual circumstances. Its partners range from development\neconomies to the least developed countries in need of specific\nassistance from the EU.
\nIn general, the overall objective for external action\nfor the period 2014-2020 may be summarised as follows:
\nA\nmajor rationalisation of the instruments took place in 2003 and has\nbegun to deliver more effective results. The Commission does not\nconsider that another major alteration of the legislative\narchitecture is necessary for the next MFF period, although\nsome improvements are being proposed and the overall investment is\nbeing stepped up.
\nThe Commission proposes to allocate EUR 70 billion\nfor the 2014-2020 period for external instruments broken down as\nfollows:
\nIn parallel and for the first time, the Commission\nproposes a single horizontal regulation establishing common rules and\nprocedures for the implementation of the\nUnion’s instruments for external action.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)\nwas developed in 2004 and covers 16 partners to the East and South\nof the EU’s borders. Under the ENP the EU offers its\nneighbours a privileged
\nrelationship, building upon a mutual commitment to\nvalues and principles such as democracy and human rights, the rule\nof law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable\ndevelopment, including climate action. The policy also provides for\npolitical association and deeper economic integration, increased\nmobility and enhanced people-to-people contacts.
\nArab Spring: changes to\nthe EU’s relationship with its neighbours and developments\nsince the ENP was set up have been analysed and assessed as part of\nthe ENP Strategic Review. As a result, a new ENP vision has been\ndeveloped as outlined in the Joint Communication of the High\nRepresentative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy\nand the European Commission ’A new response to a changing\nNeighbourhood’. The new approach calls\nnotably for greater support to partners committed to building\ndemocratic societies and undertaking reforms, in line with the\n“more for more” and \"mutual accountability\" principles,\nand provides the strategic policy framework for the EU relations\nwith the neighbours.
\nReform of the ENPI:\nalthough the ENPI has been widely recognized as a successful\nInstrument to accompany the EU’s policy towards its\nneighbours, the ENP policy review and other assessments, lessons\nlearned and public consultations have all identified a number of\nissues to tackle in the future by adapting the Instrument to make\nthe EU’s response even more effective, in\nparticular:
\nThe future European Neighbourhood Instrument should be\naligned to the new ENP vision and address the specific challenges\nand issues as identified above.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: the impact assessment reviewed the\nfollowing four options:
\nBased on the analysis, Option 2 would have the\nhighest potential to yield a positive impact and to adapt the\ncurrent cooperation framework to the new policy context, ENP\nobjectives and challenges identified through evaluations and\nlessons learned. This if therefore the preferred\noption.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 209(1) and Article 212(2)\nof the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: with this proposed Regulation,\nthe Commission proposes to establish assistance to the partner\ncountries listed below with the aim of establishing an area of\nprosperity and good neighbourliness at the EU’s\nborders.
\nPartner countries:
\nSpecific objectives of Union’s\nsupport: support under this\nRegulation shall promote enhanced political cooperation and\nprogressive economic integration between the Union and the partner\ncountries and,
\nin particular, the implementation of partnership and\ncooperation agreements, association agreements or other existing\nand future agreements, and jointly agreed action plans.
\nUnion support should target in particular:
\nUnion support may also be used in other areas when\nthis is consistent with the overall objectives of the European\nNeighbourhood Policy.
\nThe achievement of these objectives shall be measured\nusing notably the relevant EU periodic reports on the\nimplementation of the policy and the relevant indicators\nestablished by international organisations and other relevant\nbodies.
\nFramework strategy: the\nkey elements of the proposal (as compared to the current set-up)\nand their rationale are the following:
\nStrategic framework and indicative\nprogramming: the scope of the\nInstrument has been streamlined by bringing down the 29 thematic\nareas that feature in the current ENPI Regulation to six specific\nobjectives. A new, simplified programming tool for most of the\nneighbouring countries (Single Support Framework) has been\nintroduced. This new programming document will be shorter than the\nStrategy Papers
\nand Multiannual Indicative Programmes, will prevent\nduplication of information contained in the legal/political\ndocuments that underpin EU relations with its neighbours, and\nshould help shorten the programming process, therefore reducing\nadministrative costs.
\nThe new article that allows funds from the ENI and the\nrelevant internal Heading of the EU budget to be pooled with a\nsingle set of rules for measures addressing notably cross-border\nchallenges will substantially improve efficiency and reduce the\nadministrative costs of implementing such measures.
\nSimplified\nimplementation:\nto implement the new ENI Regulation,\nsimplified and flexible procedures should lead to swifter adoption\nof implementing measures and swifter delivery of EU assistance, in\nparticular in situations of crises or threats to democracy, the\nrule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, or natural or\nman-made disasters. Revision of the Financial Regulation, which has\nparticularly substantial provisions on external action, will also\nhelp facilitate the participation of civil society organisations\nand small businesses in funding programmes. The Commission intends\nto implement this Regulation using the new flexible procedures\nprovided for in the new Financial Regulation.
\nFurthermore additional simplification will also be\nachieved through the development of one horizontal framework regulation comprising\nall general and recurring provisions, providing\nfor increased coherence between the external actions\ninstruments.
\nCoherence and complementarity: in implementing this Regulation, coherence shall be\nensured with other areas of the Union external action as well as\nother relevant Union policies. Other measures are provided to\nensure donor coordination.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the European Commission in its\nCommunication of 29 June 2011 entitled “A Budget for Europe\n2020” proposed allocating to the ENI EUR 18 182 300 000\n(current prices) for the period 2014-2020.
\nDELEGATED ACTS: delegated powers to adopt acts in\naccordance with Article 290 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the\nEuropean Union should be conferred to the Commission for adopting\nthe specific implementing measures required for the Cross-Border\nCooperation mechanisms established in Title III of this Regulation.\nThe Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts,\nshould further ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate\ntransmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and\nCouncil.
\nIn order to ensure uniform conditions for the\nimplementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be\nconferred on the Commission. Taking into account the nature of\nthose implementing acts, in particular their policy orientation\nnature or their financial implications, the examination procedure\nshould in principle be used for their adoption, except for measures\nof a small financial scale.
\nThe Council adopted\nconclusions on the European Neighbourhood Policy package,\ntaking stock of progress made regarding several political\ninstruments in this field, such as the Eastern Partnership between\nthe Union and its Eastern neighbours:
\nIn its conclusion,\nthe Council the Council welcomes the joint Communication of the\nHigh Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the\nEuropean Commission which reports on the substantial progress made\nin the delivery of the new European Neighbourhood Policy. It\nwelcomes the good progress made in advancing the Partnership for\nDemocracy and Shared Prosperity with the countries of the Southern\nMediterranean and looks forward to the implementation of the\nRoadmap accompanying the joint Communication, in dialogue and\ncooperation with partners, also with the aim of developing\nsynergies with the Union for the Mediterranean and other regional\ninitiatives.
\nIt also welcomes\nboth the good progress made in the implementation of the Eastern\nPartnership.
\nThe Council adopted\nconclusions on the European Neighbourhood Policy package,\ntaking stock of progress made regarding several political\ninstruments in this field, such as the Eastern Partnership between\nthe Union and its Eastern neighbours:
\nIn its conclusion,\nthe Council the Council welcomes the joint Communication of the\nHigh Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the\nEuropean Commission which reports on the substantial progress made\nin the delivery of the new European Neighbourhood Policy. It\nwelcomes the good progress made in advancing the Partnership for\nDemocracy and Shared Prosperity with the countries of the Southern\nMediterranean and looks forward to the implementation of the\nRoadmap accompanying the joint Communication, in dialogue and\ncooperation with partners, also with the aim of developing\nsynergies with the Union for the Mediterranean and other regional\ninitiatives.
\nIt also welcomes\nboth the good progress made in the implementation of the Eastern\nPartnership.
\nPURPOSE: to establish a new European Neighbourhood\nInstrument 2014-2020 in the framework of the reform of the EU\nexternal action financial instruments and following on from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership\nInstrument 2007-2013.
\nPHILOSOPHY AND ACTION PLAN FOR EXTERNAL AID 2014-2020:\nwhat happens outside the borders of the EU can and does directly\naffect the prosperity and security of EU citizens. It is therefore\nin the interest of the EU to be actively engaged in influencing the\nworld around us, including through the use of financial\ninstruments. The Lisbon Treaty marks, in this regard, a new\ndeparture in the EU’s relations with the rest of the\nworld.
\nThe EU's engagement needs to be tailored to\nindividual circumstances. Its partners range from development\neconomies to the least developed countries in need of specific\nassistance from the EU.
\nIn general, the overall objective for external action\nfor the period 2014-2020 may be summarised as follows:
\nA\nmajor rationalisation of the instruments took place in 2003 and has\nbegun to deliver more effective results. The Commission does not\nconsider that another major alteration of the legislative\narchitecture is necessary for the next MFF period, although\nsome improvements are being proposed and the overall investment is\nbeing stepped up.
\nThe Commission proposes to allocate EUR 70 billion\nfor the 2014-2020 period for external instruments broken down as\nfollows:
\nIn parallel and for the first time, the Commission\nproposes a single horizontal regulation establishing common rules and\nprocedures for the implementation of the\nUnion’s instruments for external action.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)\nwas developed in 2004 and covers 16 partners to the East and South\nof the EU’s borders. Under the ENP the EU offers its\nneighbours a privileged
\nrelationship, building upon a mutual commitment to\nvalues and principles such as democracy and human rights, the rule\nof law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable\ndevelopment, including climate action. The policy also provides for\npolitical association and deeper economic integration, increased\nmobility and enhanced people-to-people contacts.
\nArab Spring: changes to\nthe EU’s relationship with its neighbours and developments\nsince the ENP was set up have been analysed and assessed as part of\nthe ENP Strategic Review. As a result, a new ENP vision has been\ndeveloped as outlined in the Joint Communication of the High\nRepresentative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy\nand the European Commission ’A new response to a changing\nNeighbourhood’. The new approach calls\nnotably for greater support to partners committed to building\ndemocratic societies and undertaking reforms, in line with the\n“more for more” and \"mutual accountability\" principles,\nand provides the strategic policy framework for the EU relations\nwith the neighbours.
\nReform of the ENPI:\nalthough the ENPI has been widely recognized as a successful\nInstrument to accompany the EU’s policy towards its\nneighbours, the ENP policy review and other assessments, lessons\nlearned and public consultations have all identified a number of\nissues to tackle in the future by adapting the Instrument to make\nthe EU’s response even more effective, in\nparticular:
\nThe future European Neighbourhood Instrument should be\naligned to the new ENP vision and address the specific challenges\nand issues as identified above.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: the impact assessment reviewed the\nfollowing four options:
\nBased on the analysis, Option 2 would have the\nhighest potential to yield a positive impact and to adapt the\ncurrent cooperation framework to the new policy context, ENP\nobjectives and challenges identified through evaluations and\nlessons learned. This if therefore the preferred\noption.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 209(1) and Article 212(2)\nof the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: with this proposed Regulation,\nthe Commission proposes to establish assistance to the partner\ncountries listed below with the aim of establishing an area of\nprosperity and good neighbourliness at the EU’s\nborders.
\nPartner countries:
\nSpecific objectives of Union’s\nsupport: support under this\nRegulation shall promote enhanced political cooperation and\nprogressive economic integration between the Union and the partner\ncountries and,
\nin particular, the implementation of partnership and\ncooperation agreements, association agreements or other existing\nand future agreements, and jointly agreed action plans.
\nUnion support should target in particular:
\nUnion support may also be used in other areas when\nthis is consistent with the overall objectives of the European\nNeighbourhood Policy.
\nThe achievement of these objectives shall be measured\nusing notably the relevant EU periodic reports on the\nimplementation of the policy and the relevant indicators\nestablished by international organisations and other relevant\nbodies.
\nFramework strategy: the\nkey elements of the proposal (as compared to the current set-up)\nand their rationale are the following:
\nStrategic framework and indicative\nprogramming: the scope of the\nInstrument has been streamlined by bringing down the 29 thematic\nareas that feature in the current ENPI Regulation to six specific\nobjectives. A new, simplified programming tool for most of the\nneighbouring countries (Single Support Framework) has been\nintroduced. This new programming document will be shorter than the\nStrategy Papers
\nand Multiannual Indicative Programmes, will prevent\nduplication of information contained in the legal/political\ndocuments that underpin EU relations with its neighbours, and\nshould help shorten the programming process, therefore reducing\nadministrative costs.
\nThe new article that allows funds from the ENI and the\nrelevant internal Heading of the EU budget to be pooled with a\nsingle set of rules for measures addressing notably cross-border\nchallenges will substantially improve efficiency and reduce the\nadministrative costs of implementing such measures.
\nSimplified\nimplementation:\nto implement the new ENI Regulation,\nsimplified and flexible procedures should lead to swifter adoption\nof implementing measures and swifter delivery of EU assistance, in\nparticular in situations of crises or threats to democracy, the\nrule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, or natural or\nman-made disasters. Revision of the Financial Regulation, which has\nparticularly substantial provisions on external action, will also\nhelp facilitate the participation of civil society organisations\nand small businesses in funding programmes. The Commission intends\nto implement this Regulation using the new flexible procedures\nprovided for in the new Financial Regulation.
\nFurthermore additional simplification will also be\nachieved through the development of one horizontal framework regulation comprising\nall general and recurring provisions, providing\nfor increased coherence between the external actions\ninstruments.
\nCoherence and complementarity: in implementing this Regulation, coherence shall be\nensured with other areas of the Union external action as well as\nother relevant Union policies. Other measures are provided to\nensure donor coordination.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the European Commission in its\nCommunication of 29 June 2011 entitled “A Budget for Europe\n2020” proposed allocating to the ENI EUR 18 182 300 000\n(current prices) for the period 2014-2020.
\nDELEGATED ACTS: delegated powers to adopt acts in\naccordance with Article 290 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the\nEuropean Union should be conferred to the Commission for adopting\nthe specific implementing measures required for the Cross-Border\nCooperation mechanisms established in Title III of this Regulation.\nThe Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts,\nshould further ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate\ntransmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and\nCouncil.
\nIn order to ensure uniform conditions for the\nimplementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be\nconferred on the Commission. Taking into account the nature of\nthose implementing acts, in particular their policy orientation\nnature or their financial implications, the examination procedure\nshould in principle be used for their adoption, except for measures\nof a small financial scale.
\nPURPOSE: to establish a new European Neighbourhood\nInstrument 2014-2020 in the framework of the reform of the EU\nexternal action financial instruments and following on from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership\nInstrument 2007-2013.
\nPHILOSOPHY AND ACTION PLAN FOR EXTERNAL AID 2014-2020:\nwhat happens outside the borders of the EU can and does directly\naffect the prosperity and security of EU citizens. It is therefore\nin the interest of the EU to be actively engaged in influencing the\nworld around us, including through the use of financial\ninstruments. The Lisbon Treaty marks, in this regard, a new\ndeparture in the EU’s relations with the rest of the\nworld.
\nThe EU's engagement needs to be tailored to\nindividual circumstances. Its partners range from development\neconomies to the least developed countries in need of specific\nassistance from the EU.
\nIn general, the overall objective for external action\nfor the period 2014-2020 may be summarised as follows:
\nA\nmajor rationalisation of the instruments took place in 2003 and has\nbegun to deliver more effective results. The Commission does not\nconsider that another major alteration of the legislative\narchitecture is necessary for the next MFF period, although\nsome improvements are being proposed and the overall investment is\nbeing stepped up.
\nThe Commission proposes to allocate EUR 70 billion\nfor the 2014-2020 period for external instruments broken down as\nfollows:
\nIn parallel and for the first time, the Commission\nproposes a single horizontal regulation establishing common rules and\nprocedures for the implementation of the\nUnion’s instruments for external action.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)\nwas developed in 2004 and covers 16 partners to the East and South\nof the EU’s borders. Under the ENP the EU offers its\nneighbours a privileged
\nrelationship, building upon a mutual commitment to\nvalues and principles such as democracy and human rights, the rule\nof law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable\ndevelopment, including climate action. The policy also provides for\npolitical association and deeper economic integration, increased\nmobility and enhanced people-to-people contacts.
\nArab Spring: changes to\nthe EU’s relationship with its neighbours and developments\nsince the ENP was set up have been analysed and assessed as part of\nthe ENP Strategic Review. As a result, a new ENP vision has been\ndeveloped as outlined in the Joint Communication of the High\nRepresentative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy\nand the European Commission ’A new response to a changing\nNeighbourhood’. The new approach calls\nnotably for greater support to partners committed to building\ndemocratic societies and undertaking reforms, in line with the\n“more for more” and \"mutual accountability\" principles,\nand provides the strategic policy framework for the EU relations\nwith the neighbours.
\nReform of the ENPI:\nalthough the ENPI has been widely recognized as a successful\nInstrument to accompany the EU’s policy towards its\nneighbours, the ENP policy review and other assessments, lessons\nlearned and public consultations have all identified a number of\nissues to tackle in the future by adapting the Instrument to make\nthe EU’s response even more effective, in\nparticular:
\nThe future European Neighbourhood Instrument should be\naligned to the new ENP vision and address the specific challenges\nand issues as identified above.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: the impact assessment reviewed the\nfollowing four options:
\nBased on the analysis, Option 2 would have the\nhighest potential to yield a positive impact and to adapt the\ncurrent cooperation framework to the new policy context, ENP\nobjectives and challenges identified through evaluations and\nlessons learned. This if therefore the preferred\noption.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 209(1) and Article 212(2)\nof the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: with this proposed Regulation,\nthe Commission proposes to establish assistance to the partner\ncountries listed below with the aim of establishing an area of\nprosperity and good neighbourliness at the EU’s\nborders.
\nPartner countries:
\nSpecific objectives of Union’s\nsupport: support under this\nRegulation shall promote enhanced political cooperation and\nprogressive economic integration between the Union and the partner\ncountries and,
\nin particular, the implementation of partnership and\ncooperation agreements, association agreements or other existing\nand future agreements, and jointly agreed action plans.
\nUnion support should target in particular:
\nUnion support may also be used in other areas when\nthis is consistent with the overall objectives of the European\nNeighbourhood Policy.
\nThe achievement of these objectives shall be measured\nusing notably the relevant EU periodic reports on the\nimplementation of the policy and the relevant indicators\nestablished by international organisations and other relevant\nbodies.
\nFramework strategy: the\nkey elements of the proposal (as compared to the current set-up)\nand their rationale are the following:
\nStrategic framework and indicative\nprogramming: the scope of the\nInstrument has been streamlined by bringing down the 29 thematic\nareas that feature in the current ENPI Regulation to six specific\nobjectives. A new, simplified programming tool for most of the\nneighbouring countries (Single Support Framework) has been\nintroduced. This new programming document will be shorter than the\nStrategy Papers
\nand Multiannual Indicative Programmes, will prevent\nduplication of information contained in the legal/political\ndocuments that underpin EU relations with its neighbours, and\nshould help shorten the programming process, therefore reducing\nadministrative costs.
\nThe new article that allows funds from the ENI and the\nrelevant internal Heading of the EU budget to be pooled with a\nsingle set of rules for measures addressing notably cross-border\nchallenges will substantially improve efficiency and reduce the\nadministrative costs of implementing such measures.
\nSimplified\nimplementation:\nto implement the new ENI Regulation,\nsimplified and flexible procedures should lead to swifter adoption\nof implementing measures and swifter delivery of EU assistance, in\nparticular in situations of crises or threats to democracy, the\nrule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, or natural or\nman-made disasters. Revision of the Financial Regulation, which has\nparticularly substantial provisions on external action, will also\nhelp facilitate the participation of civil society organisations\nand small businesses in funding programmes. The Commission intends\nto implement this Regulation using the new flexible procedures\nprovided for in the new Financial Regulation.
\nFurthermore additional simplification will also be\nachieved through the development of one horizontal framework regulation comprising\nall general and recurring provisions, providing\nfor increased coherence between the external actions\ninstruments.
\nCoherence and complementarity: in implementing this Regulation, coherence shall be\nensured with other areas of the Union external action as well as\nother relevant Union policies. Other measures are provided to\nensure donor coordination.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the European Commission in its\nCommunication of 29 June 2011 entitled “A Budget for Europe\n2020” proposed allocating to the ENI EUR 18 182 300 000\n(current prices) for the period 2014-2020.
\nDELEGATED ACTS: delegated powers to adopt acts in\naccordance with Article 290 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the\nEuropean Union should be conferred to the Commission for adopting\nthe specific implementing measures required for the Cross-Border\nCooperation mechanisms established in Title III of this Regulation.\nThe Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts,\nshould further ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate\ntransmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and\nCouncil.
\nIn order to ensure uniform conditions for the\nimplementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be\nconferred on the Commission. Taking into account the nature of\nthose implementing acts, in particular their policy orientation\nnature or their financial implications, the examination procedure\nshould in principle be used for their adoption, except for measures\nof a small financial scale.
\nOBJECTIF :\nétablir un nouvel instrument européen de voisinage\n2014-2020 dans le cadre de la refonte des instruments de\nfinancement de la politique extérieure de l’UE et\nfaisant suite à l’instrument\neuropéen de voisinage et de partenariat de la\npériode 2007-2013.
\nPHILOSOPHIE ET\nCADRE D’ACTION POUR LA POLITIQUE EXTÉRIEURE DE\nL’UE 2014-2020 : les événements qui se\ndéroulent à l'extérieur des frontières\nde l'Union ont des répercussions directes sur la\nprospérité et la sécurité des citoyens\nde l'UE. Il est donc dans l'intérêt de l'Union\neuropéenne de s'efforcer d'influencer activement le monde, y\ncompris en usant d'instruments financiers. Le traité de\nLisbonne marque à cet égard un nouveau départ\npour les relations de l'UE avec le reste du monde.
\nL'engagement de\nl'UE vis-à-vis de ses partenaires doit être\nadapté à chaque situation particulière,\nsachant que les pays concernés sont aussi bien des\néconomies en développement que des pays parmi les\nmoins avancés ayant besoin d'une aide spécifique de\nl'UE.
\nD’une\nmanière générale, les grands axes de la\nnouvelle politique extérieure de l’UE pour la\npériode 2014-2020 peuvent se résumer comme\nsuit :
\nVu l’effort de\nrationalisation important déjà engagé en 2003\navec la précédente vague d’instruments\nfinanciers portant sur la politique extérieure, et\nl’impact globalement positif de cette nouvelle distribution\ndes fonds, la Commission considère qu'il n'est pas\nnécessaire de procéder à une nouvelle\nréorganisation majeure du dispositif législatif pour\nle prochain cadre financier pluriannuel, même si un\ncertain nombre d'améliorations sont proposées et que\nl'investissement global monte en puissance. Il est ainsi\nenvisagé de proposer un montant global de 70 milliards\nEUR aux instruments d'aide extérieure pour la période\n2014-2020 répartis entre autre (mais pas uniquement) sur\nles instruments suivants :
\n\nParallèlement et pour la première fois, la Commission\npropose un règlement\nunique instituant des règles et des modalités\ncommunes pour la mise en œuvre de l’ensemble des\ninstruments pour l'action extérieure européenne.
\nACTE PROPOSÉ\n: Règlement du Parlement européen et du Conseil.
\nCONTEXTE : la\npolitique européenne de voisinage (PEV) a été\nmise en place en 2004. Elle s'étend à 16 partenaires\nsitués aux frontières orientales et\nméridionales de l'UE. Par l'intermédiaire de la PEV,\nl'UE propose à ses voisins une relation\nprivilégiée, fondée sur un attachement mutuel\nà des valeurs et principes tels que la démocratie et\nles droits de l'homme, l'État de droit, la bonne\ngouvernance, les principes d'économie de marché et le\ndéveloppement durable ainsi que la lutte contre le\nchangement climatique. Cette politique prévoit\négalement une association politique et une\nintégration économique plus étroite, un\nrenforcement de la mobilité et une intensification des\ncontacts entre les peuples.
\nPrintemps\narabe : les changements intervenus dans les relations de\nl'UE avec ses voisins et les développements observés\ndepuis la mise en place de la PEV ont été\nanalysés et appréciés dans le cadre de\nl'examen stratégique de la PEV. Cet examen a\ndébouché sur une nouvelle vision de la PEV\nexposée dans la communication intitulée «Une\nstratégie nouvelle à l'égard d'un voisinage en\nmutation». Cette nouvelle approche préconise\nnotamment une aide accrue aux partenaires\ndéterminés à édifier des\nsociétés démocratiques et à\nentreprendre des réformes, conformément au\nprincipe d'une approche différenciée (approche\n«more for more») et à celui de la\nresponsabilisation.
\nRéforme\nde l’IEVP : face aux évènements, il\nincombait à la Commission de repenser l’instrument\nà l’appui de la politique de voisinage notamment pour\ntenir compte :
\nLe nouvel\ninstrument européen de voisinage entend répondre\nà ces divers défis.
\nANALYSE\nD’IMPACT : l’analyse d’impact de la Commission a\nétudié 4 options:
\nSur la base de\nl'analyse, l'option 2 serait la plus susceptible de produire\nun effet positif et d'adapter le cadre actuel de coopération\nau nouveau cadre d'action, ainsi qu'aux objectifs et aux\ndéfis de la PEV. Cette option est donc\nprivilégiée.
\nBASE JURIDIQUE :\narticle 209, par. 1, et article 212, par. 2, du traité sur\nle fonctionnement de l’Union européenne (TFUE).
\nCONTENU : avec le\nprésent projet de règlement, la Commission\nétablit un soutien au profit des pays partenaires\nénumérés ci-après dans le cadre d'un\nespace de prospérité et de bon voisinage.
\nPays\nconcernés par la PEV :
\n\n§ \nAlgérie,
\n\n§ \nArménie,
\n\n§ \nAzerbaïdjan,
\n\n§ \nBiélorussie,
\n\n§ \nÉgypte,
\n\n§ \nGéorgie,
\n\n§ \nIsraël,
\n\n§ \nJordanie,
\n\n§ \nLiban,
\n\n§ \nLibye,
\n\n§ \nMoldavie,
\n\n§ \nMaroc,
\n\n§ \nTerritoires palestiniens occupés,
\n\n§ \nSyrie,
\n\n§ \nTunisie,
\n\n§ \nUkraine
\nainsi que la Russie\nen vertu de dispositions spécifiques.
\nObjectifs\nspécifiques du soutien de l'Union : le soutien\nprévu dans le cadre du règlement favorise le\nrenforcement de la coopération politique et\nl'intégration économique progressive entre l'Union et\nles pays partenaires, et notamment la mise en œuvre\nd'accords de partenariat et de coopération, d'accords\nd'association ou d'autres accords existants et à venir,\nainsi que de plans d'action arrêtés d'un commun\naccord.
\nLe soutien de\nl'Union vise notamment à:
\nLe soutien de\nl'Union peut également être utilisé dans\nd'autres domaines lorsque cela est compatible avec les objectifs\ngénéraux de la politique européenne de\nvoisinage.
\nLa\nréalisation de ces objectifs est évaluée au\nregard des rapports réguliers de l'UE sur la mise en\nœuvre de la politique et au regard d’indicateurs\npertinents décrits à la proposition.
\nCadre\nstratégique et objectifs rationalisés : les\néléments clés de la proposition et leur\nmotivation sont les suivants:
\nCadre\nstratégique et programmation indicative : un nouvel\ninstrument de programmation simplifié pour la plupart des\npays voisins (cadre unique d'appui) a été\ninstauré. Ce nouveau document de programmation sera plus\ncourt que les documents de stratégie et les programmes\nindicatifs pluriannuels actuels et devrait contribuer à\nraccourcir le processus de programmation et, partant, à\nréduire les coûts administratifs.
\nLe nouvel article\nqui permet la mise en commun de ressources provenant de\nl'IEV et de la ligne interne concernée du budget de l'UE\net une série unique de règles pour les mesures visant\nà remédier notamment aux problèmes\ntransfrontaliers améliorera sensiblement l'efficacité\net réduira les coûts administratifs découlant\nde la mise en œuvre de ces mesures.
\nMise en\nœuvre simplifiée : pour la mise en œuvre\ndu nouveau règlement instituant l'IEV, des procédures\nsimplifiées et flexibles devraient permettre une adoption\nplus rapide des mesures d'application et, par conséquent,\nune fourniture plus rapide de l'aide de l'UE, notamment en cas de\ncrise, de menace pour la démocratie, l'État de droit,\nles droits de l'homme, ou en cas de catastrophes naturelles ou\nd'origine humaine. La révision du règlement\nfinancier, qui comporte des dispositions particulièrement\nsubstantielles sur les actions extérieures, contribuera\négalement à faciliter la participation des\norganisations de la société civile et des petites\nentreprises aux programmes de financement. De nouvelles\nsimplifications seront également rendues possibles\ngrâce à l'élaboration d'un règlement\ncadre horizontal distinct comprenant toutes les dispositions\ngénérales et récurrentes, qui permettra\nune plus grande cohérence entre les instruments d'action\nextérieure.
\nCohérence\net complémentarité : lors de la mise en\nœuvre du règlement, la cohérence devra\nêtre assurée avec les autres domaines d'action\nextérieure de l'Union ainsi qu'avec les autres politiques de\nl'UE pertinentes. Des mesures sont en outre prévues pour\nassurer la coordination l'Union avec les autres bailleurs de\nfonds.
\nINCIDENCE\nBUDGÉTAIRE : conformément au cadre\nfinancier pluriannuel pour la période 2014-2020\nétablissant le budget pour la réalisation de la\nstratégie Europe 2020, la Commission propose d’allouer\nune enveloppe de 18,1823 milliards EUR (prix courants) au\nnouvel instrument européen de voisinage pour la\npériode 2014-2020.
\nACTES\nDÉLÉGUÉS : le pouvoir d'adopter des actes\nconformément à l'article 290 du TFUE devrait\nêtre délégué à la Commission aux\nfins de l'adoption des modalités spécifiques à\nla mise en œuvre du règlement. Durant la phase de\npréparation et de rédaction des actes\ndélégués, la Commission devrait veiller\nà ce que les documents pertinents soient transmis\nsimultanément, au Parlement et au Conseil.
\nLes\ncompétences d’exécution conférées\nà la Commission porteront plus particulièrement\nsur :
\nPURPOSE: to establish a new European Neighbourhood\nInstrument 2014-2020 in the framework of the reform of the EU\nexternal action financial instruments and following on from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership\nInstrument 2007-2013.
\nPHILOSOPHY AND ACTION PLAN FOR EXTERNAL AID 2014-2020:\nwhat happens outside the borders of the EU can and does directly\naffect the prosperity and security of EU citizens. It is therefore\nin the interest of the EU to be actively engaged in influencing the\nworld around us, including through the use of financial\ninstruments. The Lisbon Treaty marks, in this regard, a new\ndeparture in the EU’s relations with the rest of the\nworld.
\nThe EU's engagement needs to be tailored to\nindividual circumstances. Its partners range from development\neconomies to the least developed countries in need of specific\nassistance from the EU.
\nIn general, the overall objective for external action\nfor the period 2014-2020 may be summarised as follows:
\nA\nmajor rationalisation of the instruments took place in 2003 and has\nbegun to deliver more effective results. The Commission does not\nconsider that another major alteration of the legislative\narchitecture is necessary for the next MFF period, although\nsome improvements are being proposed and the overall investment is\nbeing stepped up.
\nThe Commission proposes to allocate EUR 70 billion\nfor the 2014-2020 period for external instruments broken down as\nfollows:
\nIn parallel and for the first time, the Commission\nproposes a single horizontal regulation establishing common rules and\nprocedures for the implementation of the\nUnion’s instruments for external action.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)\nwas developed in 2004 and covers 16 partners to the East and South\nof the EU’s borders. Under the ENP the EU offers its\nneighbours a privileged
\nrelationship, building upon a mutual commitment to\nvalues and principles such as democracy and human rights, the rule\nof law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable\ndevelopment, including climate action. The policy also provides for\npolitical association and deeper economic integration, increased\nmobility and enhanced people-to-people contacts.
\nArab Spring: changes to\nthe EU’s relationship with its neighbours and developments\nsince the ENP was set up have been analysed and assessed as part of\nthe ENP Strategic Review. As a result, a new ENP vision has been\ndeveloped as outlined in the Joint Communication of the High\nRepresentative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy\nand the European Commission ’A new response to a changing\nNeighbourhood’. The new approach calls\nnotably for greater support to partners committed to building\ndemocratic societies and undertaking reforms, in line with the\n“more for more” and \"mutual accountability\" principles,\nand provides the strategic policy framework for the EU relations\nwith the neighbours.
\nReform of the ENPI:\nalthough the ENPI has been widely recognized as a successful\nInstrument to accompany the EU’s policy towards its\nneighbours, the ENP policy review and other assessments, lessons\nlearned and public consultations have all identified a number of\nissues to tackle in the future by adapting the Instrument to make\nthe EU’s response even more effective, in\nparticular:
\nThe future European Neighbourhood Instrument should be\naligned to the new ENP vision and address the specific challenges\nand issues as identified above.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: the impact assessment reviewed the\nfollowing four options:
\nBased on the analysis, Option 2 would have the\nhighest potential to yield a positive impact and to adapt the\ncurrent cooperation framework to the new policy context, ENP\nobjectives and challenges identified through evaluations and\nlessons learned. This if therefore the preferred\noption.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 209(1) and Article 212(2)\nof the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: with this proposed Regulation,\nthe Commission proposes to establish assistance to the partner\ncountries listed below with the aim of establishing an area of\nprosperity and good neighbourliness at the EU’s\nborders.
\nPartner countries:
\nSpecific objectives of Union’s\nsupport: support under this\nRegulation shall promote enhanced political cooperation and\nprogressive economic integration between the Union and the partner\ncountries and,
\nin particular, the implementation of partnership and\ncooperation agreements, association agreements or other existing\nand future agreements, and jointly agreed action plans.
\nUnion support should target in particular:
\nUnion support may also be used in other areas when\nthis is consistent with the overall objectives of the European\nNeighbourhood Policy.
\nThe achievement of these objectives shall be measured\nusing notably the relevant EU periodic reports on the\nimplementation of the policy and the relevant indicators\nestablished by international organisations and other relevant\nbodies.
\nFramework strategy: the\nkey elements of the proposal (as compared to the current set-up)\nand their rationale are the following:
\nStrategic framework and indicative\nprogramming: the scope of the\nInstrument has been streamlined by bringing down the 29 thematic\nareas that feature in the current ENPI Regulation to six specific\nobjectives. A new, simplified programming tool for most of the\nneighbouring countries (Single Support Framework) has been\nintroduced. This new programming document will be shorter than the\nStrategy Papers
\nand Multiannual Indicative Programmes, will prevent\nduplication of information contained in the legal/political\ndocuments that underpin EU relations with its neighbours, and\nshould help shorten the programming process, therefore reducing\nadministrative costs.
\nThe new article that allows funds from the ENI and the\nrelevant internal Heading of the EU budget to be pooled with a\nsingle set of rules for measures addressing notably cross-border\nchallenges will substantially improve efficiency and reduce the\nadministrative costs of implementing such measures.
\nSimplified\nimplementation:\nto implement the new ENI Regulation,\nsimplified and flexible procedures should lead to swifter adoption\nof implementing measures and swifter delivery of EU assistance, in\nparticular in situations of crises or threats to democracy, the\nrule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, or natural or\nman-made disasters. Revision of the Financial Regulation, which has\nparticularly substantial provisions on external action, will also\nhelp facilitate the participation of civil society organisations\nand small businesses in funding programmes. The Commission intends\nto implement this Regulation using the new flexible procedures\nprovided for in the new Financial Regulation.
\nFurthermore additional simplification will also be\nachieved through the development of one horizontal framework regulation comprising\nall general and recurring provisions, providing\nfor increased coherence between the external actions\ninstruments.
\nCoherence and complementarity: in implementing this Regulation, coherence shall be\nensured with other areas of the Union external action as well as\nother relevant Union policies. Other measures are provided to\nensure donor coordination.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the European Commission in its\nCommunication of 29 June 2011 entitled “A Budget for Europe\n2020” proposed allocating to the ENI EUR 18 182 300 000\n(current prices) for the period 2014-2020.
\nDELEGATED ACTS: delegated powers to adopt acts in\naccordance with Article 290 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the\nEuropean Union should be conferred to the Commission for adopting\nthe specific implementing measures required for the Cross-Border\nCooperation mechanisms established in Title III of this Regulation.\nThe Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts,\nshould further ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate\ntransmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and\nCouncil.
\nIn order to ensure uniform conditions for the\nimplementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be\nconferred on the Commission. Taking into account the nature of\nthose implementing acts, in particular their policy orientation\nnature or their financial implications, the examination procedure\nshould in principle be used for their adoption, except for measures\nof a small financial scale.
\nThe Council adopted\nconclusions on the European Neighbourhood Policy package,\ntaking stock of progress made regarding several political\ninstruments in this field, such as the Eastern Partnership between\nthe Union and its Eastern neighbours:
\nIn its conclusion,\nthe Council the Council welcomes the joint Communication of the\nHigh Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the\nEuropean Commission which reports on the substantial progress made\nin the delivery of the new European Neighbourhood Policy. It\nwelcomes the good progress made in advancing the Partnership for\nDemocracy and Shared Prosperity with the countries of the Southern\nMediterranean and looks forward to the implementation of the\nRoadmap accompanying the joint Communication, in dialogue and\ncooperation with partners, also with the aim of developing\nsynergies with the Union for the Mediterranean and other regional\ninitiatives.
\nIt also welcomes\nboth the good progress made in the implementation of the Eastern\nPartnership.
\nOBJECTIF :\nétablir un nouvel instrument européen de voisinage\n2014-2020 dans le cadre de la refonte des instruments de\nfinancement de la politique extérieure de l’UE et\nfaisant suite à l’instrument\neuropéen de voisinage et de partenariat de la\npériode 2007-2013.
\nPHILOSOPHIE ET\nCADRE D’ACTION POUR LA POLITIQUE EXTÉRIEURE DE\nL’UE 2014-2020 : les événements qui se\ndéroulent à l'extérieur des frontières\nde l'Union ont des répercussions directes sur la\nprospérité et la sécurité des citoyens\nde l'UE. Il est donc dans l'intérêt de l'Union\neuropéenne de s'efforcer d'influencer activement le monde, y\ncompris en usant d'instruments financiers. Le traité de\nLisbonne marque à cet égard un nouveau départ\npour les relations de l'UE avec le reste du monde.
\nL'engagement de\nl'UE vis-à-vis de ses partenaires doit être\nadapté à chaque situation particulière,\nsachant que les pays concernés sont aussi bien des\néconomies en développement que des pays parmi les\nmoins avancés ayant besoin d'une aide spécifique de\nl'UE.
\nD’une\nmanière générale, les grands axes de la\nnouvelle politique extérieure de l’UE pour la\npériode 2014-2020 peuvent se résumer comme\nsuit :
\nVu l’effort de\nrationalisation important déjà engagé en 2003\navec la précédente vague d’instruments\nfinanciers portant sur la politique extérieure, et\nl’impact globalement positif de cette nouvelle distribution\ndes fonds, la Commission considère qu'il n'est pas\nnécessaire de procéder à une nouvelle\nréorganisation majeure du dispositif législatif pour\nle prochain cadre financier pluriannuel, même si un\ncertain nombre d'améliorations sont proposées et que\nl'investissement global monte en puissance. Il est ainsi\nenvisagé de proposer un montant global de 70 milliards\nEUR aux instruments d'aide extérieure pour la période\n2014-2020 répartis entre autre (mais pas uniquement) sur\nles instruments suivants :
\n\nParallèlement et pour la première fois, la Commission\npropose un règlement\nunique instituant des règles et des modalités\ncommunes pour la mise en œuvre de l’ensemble des\ninstruments pour l'action extérieure européenne.
\nACTE PROPOSÉ\n: Règlement du Parlement européen et du Conseil.
\nCONTEXTE : la\npolitique européenne de voisinage (PEV) a été\nmise en place en 2004. Elle s'étend à 16 partenaires\nsitués aux frontières orientales et\nméridionales de l'UE. Par l'intermédiaire de la PEV,\nl'UE propose à ses voisins une relation\nprivilégiée, fondée sur un attachement mutuel\nà des valeurs et principes tels que la démocratie et\nles droits de l'homme, l'État de droit, la bonne\ngouvernance, les principes d'économie de marché et le\ndéveloppement durable ainsi que la lutte contre le\nchangement climatique. Cette politique prévoit\négalement une association politique et une\nintégration économique plus étroite, un\nrenforcement de la mobilité et une intensification des\ncontacts entre les peuples.
\nPrintemps\narabe : les changements intervenus dans les relations de\nl'UE avec ses voisins et les développements observés\ndepuis la mise en place de la PEV ont été\nanalysés et appréciés dans le cadre de\nl'examen stratégique de la PEV. Cet examen a\ndébouché sur une nouvelle vision de la PEV\nexposée dans la communication intitulée «Une\nstratégie nouvelle à l'égard d'un voisinage en\nmutation». Cette nouvelle approche préconise\nnotamment une aide accrue aux partenaires\ndéterminés à édifier des\nsociétés démocratiques et à\nentreprendre des réformes, conformément au\nprincipe d'une approche différenciée (approche\n«more for more») et à celui de la\nresponsabilisation.
\nRéforme\nde l’IEVP : face aux évènements, il\nincombait à la Commission de repenser l’instrument\nà l’appui de la politique de voisinage notamment pour\ntenir compte :
\nLe nouvel\ninstrument européen de voisinage entend répondre\nà ces divers défis.
\nANALYSE\nD’IMPACT : l’analyse d’impact de la Commission a\nétudié 4 options:
\nSur la base de\nl'analyse, l'option 2 serait la plus susceptible de produire\nun effet positif et d'adapter le cadre actuel de coopération\nau nouveau cadre d'action, ainsi qu'aux objectifs et aux\ndéfis de la PEV. Cette option est donc\nprivilégiée.
\nBASE JURIDIQUE :\narticle 209, par. 1, et article 212, par. 2, du traité sur\nle fonctionnement de l’Union européenne (TFUE).
\nCONTENU : avec le\nprésent projet de règlement, la Commission\nétablit un soutien au profit des pays partenaires\nénumérés ci-après dans le cadre d'un\nespace de prospérité et de bon voisinage.
\nPays\nconcernés par la PEV :
\n\n§ \nAlgérie,
\n\n§ \nArménie,
\n\n§ \nAzerbaïdjan,
\n\n§ \nBiélorussie,
\n\n§ \nÉgypte,
\n\n§ \nGéorgie,
\n\n§ \nIsraël,
\n\n§ \nJordanie,
\n\n§ \nLiban,
\n\n§ \nLibye,
\n\n§ \nMoldavie,
\n\n§ \nMaroc,
\n\n§ \nTerritoires palestiniens occupés,
\n\n§ \nSyrie,
\n\n§ \nTunisie,
\n\n§ \nUkraine
\nainsi que la Russie\nen vertu de dispositions spécifiques.
\nObjectifs\nspécifiques du soutien de l'Union : le soutien\nprévu dans le cadre du règlement favorise le\nrenforcement de la coopération politique et\nl'intégration économique progressive entre l'Union et\nles pays partenaires, et notamment la mise en œuvre\nd'accords de partenariat et de coopération, d'accords\nd'association ou d'autres accords existants et à venir,\nainsi que de plans d'action arrêtés d'un commun\naccord.
\nLe soutien de\nl'Union vise notamment à:
\nLe soutien de\nl'Union peut également être utilisé dans\nd'autres domaines lorsque cela est compatible avec les objectifs\ngénéraux de la politique européenne de\nvoisinage.
\nLa\nréalisation de ces objectifs est évaluée au\nregard des rapports réguliers de l'UE sur la mise en\nœuvre de la politique et au regard d’indicateurs\npertinents décrits à la proposition.
\nCadre\nstratégique et objectifs rationalisés : les\néléments clés de la proposition et leur\nmotivation sont les suivants:
\nCadre\nstratégique et programmation indicative : un nouvel\ninstrument de programmation simplifié pour la plupart des\npays voisins (cadre unique d'appui) a été\ninstauré. Ce nouveau document de programmation sera plus\ncourt que les documents de stratégie et les programmes\nindicatifs pluriannuels actuels et devrait contribuer à\nraccourcir le processus de programmation et, partant, à\nréduire les coûts administratifs.
\nLe nouvel article\nqui permet la mise en commun de ressources provenant de\nl'IEV et de la ligne interne concernée du budget de l'UE\net une série unique de règles pour les mesures visant\nà remédier notamment aux problèmes\ntransfrontaliers améliorera sensiblement l'efficacité\net réduira les coûts administratifs découlant\nde la mise en œuvre de ces mesures.
\nMise en\nœuvre simplifiée : pour la mise en œuvre\ndu nouveau règlement instituant l'IEV, des procédures\nsimplifiées et flexibles devraient permettre une adoption\nplus rapide des mesures d'application et, par conséquent,\nune fourniture plus rapide de l'aide de l'UE, notamment en cas de\ncrise, de menace pour la démocratie, l'État de droit,\nles droits de l'homme, ou en cas de catastrophes naturelles ou\nd'origine humaine. La révision du règlement\nfinancier, qui comporte des dispositions particulièrement\nsubstantielles sur les actions extérieures, contribuera\négalement à faciliter la participation des\norganisations de la société civile et des petites\nentreprises aux programmes de financement. De nouvelles\nsimplifications seront également rendues possibles\ngrâce à l'élaboration d'un règlement\ncadre horizontal distinct comprenant toutes les dispositions\ngénérales et récurrentes, qui permettra\nune plus grande cohérence entre les instruments d'action\nextérieure.
\nCohérence\net complémentarité : lors de la mise en\nœuvre du règlement, la cohérence devra\nêtre assurée avec les autres domaines d'action\nextérieure de l'Union ainsi qu'avec les autres politiques de\nl'UE pertinentes. Des mesures sont en outre prévues pour\nassurer la coordination l'Union avec les autres bailleurs de\nfonds.
\nINCIDENCE\nBUDGÉTAIRE : conformément au cadre\nfinancier pluriannuel pour la période 2014-2020\nétablissant le budget pour la réalisation de la\nstratégie Europe 2020, la Commission propose d’allouer\nune enveloppe de 18,1823 milliards EUR (prix courants) au\nnouvel instrument européen de voisinage pour la\npériode 2014-2020.
\nACTES\nDÉLÉGUÉS : le pouvoir d'adopter des actes\nconformément à l'article 290 du TFUE devrait\nêtre délégué à la Commission aux\nfins de l'adoption des modalités spécifiques à\nla mise en œuvre du règlement. Durant la phase de\npréparation et de rédaction des actes\ndélégués, la Commission devrait veiller\nà ce que les documents pertinents soient transmis\nsimultanément, au Parlement et au Conseil.
\nLes\ncompétences d’exécution conférées\nà la Commission porteront plus particulièrement\nsur :
\nPURPOSE: to establish a new European Neighbourhood\nInstrument 2014-2020 in the framework of the reform of the EU\nexternal action financial instruments and following on from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership\nInstrument 2007-2013.
\nPHILOSOPHY AND ACTION PLAN FOR EXTERNAL AID 2014-2020:\nwhat happens outside the borders of the EU can and does directly\naffect the prosperity and security of EU citizens. It is therefore\nin the interest of the EU to be actively engaged in influencing the\nworld around us, including through the use of financial\ninstruments. The Lisbon Treaty marks, in this regard, a new\ndeparture in the EU’s relations with the rest of the\nworld.
\nThe EU's engagement needs to be tailored to\nindividual circumstances. Its partners range from development\neconomies to the least developed countries in need of specific\nassistance from the EU.
\nIn general, the overall objective for external action\nfor the period 2014-2020 may be summarised as follows:
\nA\nmajor rationalisation of the instruments took place in 2003 and has\nbegun to deliver more effective results. The Commission does not\nconsider that another major alteration of the legislative\narchitecture is necessary for the next MFF period, although\nsome improvements are being proposed and the overall investment is\nbeing stepped up.
\nThe Commission proposes to allocate EUR 70 billion\nfor the 2014-2020 period for external instruments broken down as\nfollows:
\nIn parallel and for the first time, the Commission\nproposes a single horizontal regulation establishing common rules and\nprocedures for the implementation of the\nUnion’s instruments for external action.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)\nwas developed in 2004 and covers 16 partners to the East and South\nof the EU’s borders. Under the ENP the EU offers its\nneighbours a privileged
\nrelationship, building upon a mutual commitment to\nvalues and principles such as democracy and human rights, the rule\nof law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable\ndevelopment, including climate action. The policy also provides for\npolitical association and deeper economic integration, increased\nmobility and enhanced people-to-people contacts.
\nArab Spring: changes to\nthe EU’s relationship with its neighbours and developments\nsince the ENP was set up have been analysed and assessed as part of\nthe ENP Strategic Review. As a result, a new ENP vision has been\ndeveloped as outlined in the Joint Communication of the High\nRepresentative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy\nand the European Commission ’A new response to a changing\nNeighbourhood’. The new approach calls\nnotably for greater support to partners committed to building\ndemocratic societies and undertaking reforms, in line with the\n“more for more” and \"mutual accountability\" principles,\nand provides the strategic policy framework for the EU relations\nwith the neighbours.
\nReform of the ENPI:\nalthough the ENPI has been widely recognized as a successful\nInstrument to accompany the EU’s policy towards its\nneighbours, the ENP policy review and other assessments, lessons\nlearned and public consultations have all identified a number of\nissues to tackle in the future by adapting the Instrument to make\nthe EU’s response even more effective, in\nparticular:
\nThe future European Neighbourhood Instrument should be\naligned to the new ENP vision and address the specific challenges\nand issues as identified above.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: the impact assessment reviewed the\nfollowing four options:
\nBased on the analysis, Option 2 would have the\nhighest potential to yield a positive impact and to adapt the\ncurrent cooperation framework to the new policy context, ENP\nobjectives and challenges identified through evaluations and\nlessons learned. This if therefore the preferred\noption.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 209(1) and Article 212(2)\nof the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union\n(TFEU).
\nCONTENT: with this proposed Regulation,\nthe Commission proposes to establish assistance to the partner\ncountries listed below with the aim of establishing an area of\nprosperity and good neighbourliness at the EU’s\nborders.
\nPartner countries:
\nSpecific objectives of Union’s\nsupport: support under this\nRegulation shall promote enhanced political cooperation and\nprogressive economic integration between the Union and the partner\ncountries and,
\nin particular, the implementation of partnership and\ncooperation agreements, association agreements or other existing\nand future agreements, and jointly agreed action plans.
\nUnion support should target in particular:
\nUnion support may also be used in other areas when\nthis is consistent with the overall objectives of the European\nNeighbourhood Policy.
\nThe achievement of these objectives shall be measured\nusing notably the relevant EU periodic reports on the\nimplementation of the policy and the relevant indicators\nestablished by international organisations and other relevant\nbodies.
\nFramework strategy: the\nkey elements of the proposal (as compared to the current set-up)\nand their rationale are the following:
\nStrategic framework and indicative\nprogramming: the scope of the\nInstrument has been streamlined by bringing down the 29 thematic\nareas that feature in the current ENPI Regulation to six specific\nobjectives. A new, simplified programming tool for most of the\nneighbouring countries (Single Support Framework) has been\nintroduced. This new programming document will be shorter than the\nStrategy Papers
\nand Multiannual Indicative Programmes, will prevent\nduplication of information contained in the legal/political\ndocuments that underpin EU relations with its neighbours, and\nshould help shorten the programming process, therefore reducing\nadministrative costs.
\nThe new article that allows funds from the ENI and the\nrelevant internal Heading of the EU budget to be pooled with a\nsingle set of rules for measures addressing notably cross-border\nchallenges will substantially improve efficiency and reduce the\nadministrative costs of implementing such measures.
\nSimplified\nimplementation:\nto implement the new ENI Regulation,\nsimplified and flexible procedures should lead to swifter adoption\nof implementing measures and swifter delivery of EU assistance, in\nparticular in situations of crises or threats to democracy, the\nrule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, or natural or\nman-made disasters. Revision of the Financial Regulation, which has\nparticularly substantial provisions on external action, will also\nhelp facilitate the participation of civil society organisations\nand small businesses in funding programmes. The Commission intends\nto implement this Regulation using the new flexible procedures\nprovided for in the new Financial Regulation.
\nFurthermore additional simplification will also be\nachieved through the development of one horizontal framework regulation comprising\nall general and recurring provisions, providing\nfor increased coherence between the external actions\ninstruments.
\nCoherence and complementarity: in implementing this Regulation, coherence shall be\nensured with other areas of the Union external action as well as\nother relevant Union policies. Other measures are provided to\nensure donor coordination.
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the European Commission in its\nCommunication of 29 June 2011 entitled “A Budget for Europe\n2020” proposed allocating to the ENI EUR 18 182 300 000\n(current prices) for the period 2014-2020.
\nDELEGATED ACTS: delegated powers to adopt acts in\naccordance with Article 290 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the\nEuropean Union should be conferred to the Commission for adopting\nthe specific implementing measures required for the Cross-Border\nCooperation mechanisms established in Title III of this Regulation.\nThe Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts,\nshould further ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate\ntransmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and\nCouncil.
\nIn order to ensure uniform conditions for the\nimplementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be\nconferred on the Commission. Taking into account the nature of\nthose implementing acts, in particular their policy orientation\nnature or their financial implications, the examination procedure\nshould in principle be used for their adoption, except for measures\nof a small financial scale.
\nPURPOSE: to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005\non support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund\nfor Rural Development (EAFRD) in order to align it with the Lisbon\nTreaty and to implement a number simplification proposals as part\nof the simplification exercise of the CAP.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council
\nBACKGROUND: Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005\nconfers powers on the Commission in order to implement some of the\nprovisions of that Regulation. As a consequence of the entry into\nforce of the Lisbon Treaty, the powers conferred under Regulation\n(EC) No 1698/2005 upon the Commission need to be aligned to\nArticles 290 (delegated acts) and 291 (implementing acts) of the\nTreaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried\nout.
\nLEGAL BASE: Article 43 of\nthe TFEU.
\nCONTENT: this proposal aims to identify the\ndelegated and implementing powers of the Commission in Council\nRegulation (EC) No 1698/2005 and establish the corresponding\nprocedure for adoption of these acts.
\nPursuant to Article 290 of the Treaty, the proposal allows the Commission to adopt\ndelegated acts in order to:
\nThe Commission shall fix detailed control rules and\nadopt specific transitional measures.
\nIn accordance with Article 291 of the\nTreaty Member States are responsible\nfor implementing the regime established by the Legislator. However,\nit seems necessary to ensure uniform implementation of the\nscheme in Member States in order to avoid distortions of\ncompetition or discrimination between operators. Therefore, the\nLegislator gives the Commission powers of enforcement as\nregards:
\nAdditionally, some elements of simplification are\nintroduced:
\nReduction of the number of summary reports and\nsimplification of their content under strategic monitoring:\nas part of the simplification\nexercise of the CAP Member States wanted a reduction in the number\nof reports to the Commission. In addition to annual progress\nreports, Member States are required to submit to the Commission\nsummary reports setting out the progress made in implementing their\nnational strategy plans and objectives and their contribution to\nthe achievement of the Community strategic guidelines. Under the\ncurrent rules, these summary reports are to be submitted each\nsecond year, starting from 2010 and ending in 2014, i.e. altogether\nthree reports. The proposal will limit the number of reports to\ntwo, the first one to be submitted in 2010 and the second one in\n2015, the former in the context of mid-term evaluation and the\nlatter of ex post evaluation.
\nIn addition, the report is required to summarise the\nprevious year's annual progress reports. This requirement should be\ndropped, as it duplicates work. The number of Commission reports\nsummarising the main developments, trends and challenges relating\nto the implementation of the national strategy plans and the\nCommunity strategic guidelines will bw reduced to two, one in 2011\nand the second one in 2016.
\nExtension of the coverage of the measure for producer\ngroups: the current provision on\nsupport for producer groups, which is already available for all\nsectors in the new Member States, should be extended to also cover\nEU-15. However, there will be support for producer groups in the\nfruit and vegetable sector as their activities may be supported\nunder the single CMO.
\nFacilitating more tailor-made use of the advisory\nservices: Member States had proposed changing the rules for use of\nadvisory services. Currently the rules require that, as a minimum,\nthe advisory service to farmers should cover the statutory\nmanagement requirements and the good agricultural and environmental\nconditions under cross-compliance as well as the occupational\nsafety standards based on Union legislation.
\nIn order to facilitate more tailor-made use of the\nadvisory services and to reflect the individual needs of the\nbeneficiary, the advisory service provided will not need to cover\nall the aspects listed, but one or more of them.
\nContinuous linear features and stepping\nstones: according to Article 10 of the Habitats Directive,\nMember States shall endeavour, with a view to improving the\necological coherence of the Natura 2000 network, to encourage the\nmanagement of features of the landscape which are of major\nimportance for wild fauna and flora. Such features are those which,\nby virtue of their linear and continuous structure (such as rivers\nwith their banks or the traditional systems for marking field\nboundaries) or their function as stepping stones (such as ponds or\nsmall woods), are essential for the migration, dispersal and\ngenetic exchange of wild species.
\nThese areas can play an important role for the\ncoherence of Natura 2000 areas and relevant provisions should be\nincluded in order to allow Natura 2000 payments for these\nnationally delimited nature protection areas if sufficient\njustification is provided linking them to Article 10 of the\nHabitats Directive. In order to ensure that payments continue to be\nprimarily used for the designated Natura 2000 sites, it is proposed\nto limit their proportion compared to the Natura 2000 areas.\nHowever, this provision is without prejudice to the endeavours of\nMember States under the Habitats Directive related to encouraging\nthe management of landscape features which are of major importance\nfor wild fauna and flora and does not prejudice the question of\nwhat constitutes an adequate implementation of Article 10 of the\nHabitats Directive.
\nFollow up of non-compliances of the\ncross-compliance: Member State can decide to consider\na case of non-compliance as minor or not to apply a reduction or\nexclusion where the amount concerned is less than EUR 100.\nCurrently, the competent control authority should ensure that the\nfarmer remedies the findings of the non-compliance concerned.\nHowever, with a view to simplification and in order to ease the\nadministrative burden, consideration should be given to simplifying\nthe follow-up checks system.
\nIntroducing incentive element for measures falling\nunder Article 43 of the Treaty: in order to be compatible\nwith the common market, any aid measure must contain some incentive\nelement or require some counterpart on the part of the beneficiary.\nAid which is granted retroactively in respect of activities which\nhave already been undertaken by the beneficiary cannot be\nconsidered to contain the necessary incentive element. However, for\nco-financed Rural Development measures approved under Article 43 of\nthe Treaty, there is currently no requirement for an incentive\neffect laid down in the Union legislation, except in the case of\ntop-ups to which agricultural state aid rules apply. Therefore,\nretroactive granting of aid should also be prohibited for\nco-financed agricultural measures and a starting date of\neligibility should be provided.
\nFINANCIAL\nIMPLICATIONS: this measure does not\ninvolve any additional Union expenditure.
\nThe Council was briefed on the two following proposals\nin the light of the adaptation to the Lisbon Treaty:\n
\nThese proposals\nalso contain a number of simplification provisions, which follow up\non the assessment by the Commission services of the 39\nsimplification proposals presented by Member States in 2009.
\nMany delegations\nexpressed the view that alignment of agricultural legislation with\nthe Lisbon Treaty was a complex issue, which required further\nclarification by the Commission and an in-depth analysis by Member\nStates' experts. As regards the proposed simplification provisions,\nthose were generally welcomed. Several delegations, however, were\ndisappointed that the proposals did not go far enough. They\nreiterated suggestions for further simplification and urged the\nCommission to continue its efforts.
\nThese Commission\nproposals intend to reshape Commission implementing powers in\nCAP-related legislation and bring them into line with the\nprovisions of the Lisbon Treaty (49 basic acts are concerned). The\nproposed amendments classify the Commission's existing powers as\neither delegated or implementing powers.
\nAs regards\nsimplification, the proposal amending regulation (EC) n°\n1698/2005 includes provisions seeking to reduce the number of\nsummary reports from Member States, more targeted use of advisory\nservices, the alignment of non-compliance rules for\ncross-compliance with those in Regulation 73/2009 and the extension\nof provisions on support for producer groups to the 'old' Member\nStates.
\nThese proposals\nwill be examined by the Council preparatory bodies.
\nThe Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development\nadopted the report drafted by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT) on the\nproposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the\nCouncil amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support\nfor rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural\nDevelopment (EAFRD).
\nIt recommends that the European Parliament’s\nposition adopted at first reading, under the ordinary legislative\nprocedure, should amend the Commission proposal as\nfollows:
\nDelegated and implementing powers of the\nCommission: the amendments introduced\nby the MEPs aim to take into account:
\nThe power to adopt the delegated acts is conferred\non the Commission subject to certain conditions. The delegation\nof power shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five\nyears from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. A\ndelegated act shall enter into force only if no objection has been\nexpressed either by the Parliament or the Council within a period\nof two months of notification of that act to the European\nParliament and the Council. That period shall be extended by two\nmonths at the initiative of the European Parliament or the\nCouncil.
\nAdvisory services: the\nadvisory service to farmers (including the provision of technical\nadvice) shall in all cases cover more than one of the statutory\nmanagement requirements and good agricultural and environmental\nconditions provided for in Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 and, where\nrelevant, one or more of the occupational safety standards based on\nUnion legislation.
\nImproving the environment and rural\ndevelopment: the aid to which this\narticle refers shall only apply to farmers or farmers’\nassociations that devote an essential part of their working time to\nagricultural activities and derive from them a significant part of\ntheir income according to criteria to be defined by the Member\nState.
\nFinancial participation of the EAFRD (breakdown of\nresources): notwithstanding the\nprovisions of Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005, for Member States that\nhave opted for regional programmes, the calculation of the\nautomatic cancellation of financial resources may be made at the\nlevel of the Member State.
\nEligibility of expenditure (costs excluded from EAFRD\ncofinancing): it is clarified that\nVAT should be excluded from the cofinancing, except non-recoverable\nVAT when it is genuinely and definitively borne by\nbeneficiaries.
\nOn the other hand, work carried out on a time and\nmaterials basis as part of rural development measures by the\nultimate beneficiaries using the manpower, materials and equipment\nwhich a firm has to hand shall be eligible for an EAFRD\ncontribution; in such cases, the amount of expenditure eligible for\na EAFRD contribution shall be calculated on the basis of a price\nlist for the various works performed.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 645 votes to 25,\nwith 18 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a\nregulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural\ndevelopment by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development\n(EAFRD).
\nParliament’s position adopted at first reading,\nunder the ordinary legislative procedure, amends the Commission\nproposal as follows:
\nDelegated and implementing powers of the\nCommission: the amendments introduced\nby the MEPs aim to take into account:
\nThe power to adopt the delegated acts is conferred\non the Commission subject to certain conditions. The delegation\nof power shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five\nyears from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. A\ndelegated act shall enter into force only if no objection has been\nexpressed either by the Parliament or the Council within a period\nof two months of notification of that act to the European\nParliament and the Council. That period shall be extended by two\nmonths at the initiative of the European Parliament or the\nCouncil.
\nAdvisory services: the\nadvisory service to farmers (including the provision of technical\nadvice) shall in all cases cover more than one of the statutory\nmanagement requirements and good agricultural and environmental\nconditions provided for in Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 and, where\nrelevant, one or more of the occupational safety standards based on\nUnion legislation.
\nImproving the environment and rural\ndevelopment: the aid to which this\narticle refers shall only apply to farmers or farmers’\nassociations that devote an essential part of their working time to\nagricultural activities and derive from them a significant part of\ntheir income according to criteria to be defined by the Member\nState.
\nFinancial participation of the EAFRD (breakdown of\nresources): notwithstanding the\nprovisions of Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005, for Member States that\nhave opted for regional programmes, the calculation of the\nautomatic cancellation of financial resources may be made at the\nlevel of the Member State.
\nEligibility of expenditure (costs excluded from EAFRD\ncofinancing): it is clarified that\nVAT should be excluded from the cofinancing, except non-recoverable\nVAT when it is genuinely and definitively borne by\nbeneficiaries.
\nOn the other hand, work carried out on a time and\nmaterials basis as part of rural development measures by the\nultimate beneficiaries using the manpower, materials and equipment\nwhich a firm has to hand shall be eligible for an EAFRD\ncontribution; in such cases, the amount of expenditure eligible for\na EAFRD contribution shall be calculated on the basis of a price\nlist for the various works performed.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 645 votes to 25,\nwith 18 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a\nregulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural\ndevelopment by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development\n(EAFRD).
\nParliament’s position adopted at first reading,\nunder the ordinary legislative procedure, amends the Commission\nproposal as follows:
\nDelegated and implementing powers of the\nCommission: the amendments introduced\nby the MEPs aim to take into account:
\nThe power to adopt the delegated acts is conferred\non the Commission subject to certain conditions. The delegation\nof power shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five\nyears from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. A\ndelegated act shall enter into force only if no objection has been\nexpressed either by the Parliament or the Council within a period\nof two months of notification of that act to the European\nParliament and the Council. That period shall be extended by two\nmonths at the initiative of the European Parliament or the\nCouncil.
\nAdvisory services: the\nadvisory service to farmers (including the provision of technical\nadvice) shall in all cases cover more than one of the statutory\nmanagement requirements and good agricultural and environmental\nconditions provided for in Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 and, where\nrelevant, one or more of the occupational safety standards based on\nUnion legislation.
\nImproving the environment and rural\ndevelopment: the aid to which this\narticle refers shall only apply to farmers or farmers’\nassociations that devote an essential part of their working time to\nagricultural activities and derive from them a significant part of\ntheir income according to criteria to be defined by the Member\nState.
\nFinancial participation of the EAFRD (breakdown of\nresources): notwithstanding the\nprovisions of Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005, for Member States that\nhave opted for regional programmes, the calculation of the\nautomatic cancellation of financial resources may be made at the\nlevel of the Member State.
\nEligibility of expenditure (costs excluded from EAFRD\ncofinancing): it is clarified that\nVAT should be excluded from the cofinancing, except non-recoverable\nVAT when it is genuinely and definitively borne by\nbeneficiaries.
\nOn the other hand, work carried out on a time and\nmaterials basis as part of rural development measures by the\nultimate beneficiaries using the manpower, materials and equipment\nwhich a firm has to hand shall be eligible for an EAFRD\ncontribution; in such cases, the amount of expenditure eligible for\na EAFRD contribution shall be calculated on the basis of a price\nlist for the various works performed.
\nPURPOSE: to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005\non support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund\nfor Rural Development (EAFRD) in order to align it with the Lisbon\nTreaty and to implement a number simplification proposals as part\nof the simplification exercise of the CAP.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council
\nBACKGROUND: Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005\nconfers powers on the Commission in order to implement some of the\nprovisions of that Regulation. As a consequence of the entry into\nforce of the Lisbon Treaty, the powers conferred under Regulation\n(EC) No 1698/2005 upon the Commission need to be aligned to\nArticles 290 (delegated acts) and 291 (implementing acts) of the\nTreaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried\nout.
\nLEGAL BASE: Article 43 of\nthe TFEU.
\nCONTENT: this proposal aims to identify the\ndelegated and implementing powers of the Commission in Council\nRegulation (EC) No 1698/2005 and establish the corresponding\nprocedure for adoption of these acts.
\nPursuant to Article 290 of the Treaty, the proposal allows the Commission to adopt\ndelegated acts in order to:
\nThe Commission shall fix detailed control rules and\nadopt specific transitional measures.
\nIn accordance with Article 291 of the\nTreaty Member States are responsible\nfor implementing the regime established by the Legislator. However,\nit seems necessary to ensure uniform implementation of the\nscheme in Member States in order to avoid distortions of\ncompetition or discrimination between operators. Therefore, the\nLegislator gives the Commission powers of enforcement as\nregards:
\nAdditionally, some elements of simplification are\nintroduced:
\nReduction of the number of summary reports and\nsimplification of their content under strategic monitoring:\nas part of the simplification\nexercise of the CAP Member States wanted a reduction in the number\nof reports to the Commission. In addition to annual progress\nreports, Member States are required to submit to the Commission\nsummary reports setting out the progress made in implementing their\nnational strategy plans and objectives and their contribution to\nthe achievement of the Community strategic guidelines. Under the\ncurrent rules, these summary reports are to be submitted each\nsecond year, starting from 2010 and ending in 2014, i.e. altogether\nthree reports. The proposal will limit the number of reports to\ntwo, the first one to be submitted in 2010 and the second one in\n2015, the former in the context of mid-term evaluation and the\nlatter of ex post evaluation.
\nIn addition, the report is required to summarise the\nprevious year's annual progress reports. This requirement should be\ndropped, as it duplicates work. The number of Commission reports\nsummarising the main developments, trends and challenges relating\nto the implementation of the national strategy plans and the\nCommunity strategic guidelines will bw reduced to two, one in 2011\nand the second one in 2016.
\nExtension of the coverage of the measure for producer\ngroups: the current provision on\nsupport for producer groups, which is already available for all\nsectors in the new Member States, should be extended to also cover\nEU-15. However, there will be support for producer groups in the\nfruit and vegetable sector as their activities may be supported\nunder the single CMO.
\nFacilitating more tailor-made use of the advisory\nservices: Member States had proposed changing the rules for use of\nadvisory services. Currently the rules require that, as a minimum,\nthe advisory service to farmers should cover the statutory\nmanagement requirements and the good agricultural and environmental\nconditions under cross-compliance as well as the occupational\nsafety standards based on Union legislation.
\nIn order to facilitate more tailor-made use of the\nadvisory services and to reflect the individual needs of the\nbeneficiary, the advisory service provided will not need to cover\nall the aspects listed, but one or more of them.
\nContinuous linear features and stepping\nstones: according to Article 10 of the Habitats Directive,\nMember States shall endeavour, with a view to improving the\necological coherence of the Natura 2000 network, to encourage the\nmanagement of features of the landscape which are of major\nimportance for wild fauna and flora. Such features are those which,\nby virtue of their linear and continuous structure (such as rivers\nwith their banks or the traditional systems for marking field\nboundaries) or their function as stepping stones (such as ponds or\nsmall woods), are essential for the migration, dispersal and\ngenetic exchange of wild species.
\nThese areas can play an important role for the\ncoherence of Natura 2000 areas and relevant provisions should be\nincluded in order to allow Natura 2000 payments for these\nnationally delimited nature protection areas if sufficient\njustification is provided linking them to Article 10 of the\nHabitats Directive. In order to ensure that payments continue to be\nprimarily used for the designated Natura 2000 sites, it is proposed\nto limit their proportion compared to the Natura 2000 areas.\nHowever, this provision is without prejudice to the endeavours of\nMember States under the Habitats Directive related to encouraging\nthe management of landscape features which are of major importance\nfor wild fauna and flora and does not prejudice the question of\nwhat constitutes an adequate implementation of Article 10 of the\nHabitats Directive.
\nFollow up of non-compliances of the\ncross-compliance: Member State can decide to consider\na case of non-compliance as minor or not to apply a reduction or\nexclusion where the amount concerned is less than EUR 100.\nCurrently, the competent control authority should ensure that the\nfarmer remedies the findings of the non-compliance concerned.\nHowever, with a view to simplification and in order to ease the\nadministrative burden, consideration should be given to simplifying\nthe follow-up checks system.
\nIntroducing incentive element for measures falling\nunder Article 43 of the Treaty: in order to be compatible\nwith the common market, any aid measure must contain some incentive\nelement or require some counterpart on the part of the beneficiary.\nAid which is granted retroactively in respect of activities which\nhave already been undertaken by the beneficiary cannot be\nconsidered to contain the necessary incentive element. However, for\nco-financed Rural Development measures approved under Article 43 of\nthe Treaty, there is currently no requirement for an incentive\neffect laid down in the Union legislation, except in the case of\ntop-ups to which agricultural state aid rules apply. Therefore,\nretroactive granting of aid should also be prohibited for\nco-financed agricultural measures and a starting date of\neligibility should be provided.
\nFINANCIAL\nIMPLICATIONS: this measure does not\ninvolve any additional Union expenditure.
\nThe Council was briefed on the two following proposals\nin the light of the adaptation to the Lisbon Treaty:\n
\nThese proposals\nalso contain a number of simplification provisions, which follow up\non the assessment by the Commission services of the 39\nsimplification proposals presented by Member States in 2009.
\nMany delegations\nexpressed the view that alignment of agricultural legislation with\nthe Lisbon Treaty was a complex issue, which required further\nclarification by the Commission and an in-depth analysis by Member\nStates' experts. As regards the proposed simplification provisions,\nthose were generally welcomed. Several delegations, however, were\ndisappointed that the proposals did not go far enough. They\nreiterated suggestions for further simplification and urged the\nCommission to continue its efforts.
\nThese Commission\nproposals intend to reshape Commission implementing powers in\nCAP-related legislation and bring them into line with the\nprovisions of the Lisbon Treaty (49 basic acts are concerned). The\nproposed amendments classify the Commission's existing powers as\neither delegated or implementing powers.
\nAs regards\nsimplification, the proposal amending regulation (EC) n°\n1698/2005 includes provisions seeking to reduce the number of\nsummary reports from Member States, more targeted use of advisory\nservices, the alignment of non-compliance rules for\ncross-compliance with those in Regulation 73/2009 and the extension\nof provisions on support for producer groups to the 'old' Member\nStates.
\nThese proposals\nwill be examined by the Council preparatory bodies.
\nThe Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development\nadopted the report drafted by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT) on the\nproposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the\nCouncil amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support\nfor rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural\nDevelopment (EAFRD).
\nIt recommends that the European Parliament’s\nposition adopted at first reading, under the ordinary legislative\nprocedure, should amend the Commission proposal as\nfollows:
\nDelegated and implementing powers of the\nCommission: the amendments introduced\nby the MEPs aim to take into account:
\nThe power to adopt the delegated acts is conferred\non the Commission subject to certain conditions. The delegation\nof power shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five\nyears from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. A\ndelegated act shall enter into force only if no objection has been\nexpressed either by the Parliament or the Council within a period\nof two months of notification of that act to the European\nParliament and the Council. That period shall be extended by two\nmonths at the initiative of the European Parliament or the\nCouncil.
\nAdvisory services: the\nadvisory service to farmers (including the provision of technical\nadvice) shall in all cases cover more than one of the statutory\nmanagement requirements and good agricultural and environmental\nconditions provided for in Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 and, where\nrelevant, one or more of the occupational safety standards based on\nUnion legislation.
\nImproving the environment and rural\ndevelopment: the aid to which this\narticle refers shall only apply to farmers or farmers’\nassociations that devote an essential part of their working time to\nagricultural activities and derive from them a significant part of\ntheir income according to criteria to be defined by the Member\nState.
\nFinancial participation of the EAFRD (breakdown of\nresources): notwithstanding the\nprovisions of Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005, for Member States that\nhave opted for regional programmes, the calculation of the\nautomatic cancellation of financial resources may be made at the\nlevel of the Member State.
\nEligibility of expenditure (costs excluded from EAFRD\ncofinancing): it is clarified that\nVAT should be excluded from the cofinancing, except non-recoverable\nVAT when it is genuinely and definitively borne by\nbeneficiaries.
\nOn the other hand, work carried out on a time and\nmaterials basis as part of rural development measures by the\nultimate beneficiaries using the manpower, materials and equipment\nwhich a firm has to hand shall be eligible for an EAFRD\ncontribution; in such cases, the amount of expenditure eligible for\na EAFRD contribution shall be calculated on the basis of a price\nlist for the various works performed.
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