Document ID: 32021C0614(01)
Language: ENG

<table><col/><col/><col/><col/><tbody><tr><td><p>14.6.2021&#160;&#160;&#160;</p></td><td><p>EN</p></td><td><p>Official Journal of the European Union</p></td><td><p>CI 226/1</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Statement by the European Parliament on the suspension of assistance granted under the external financing instruments
(2021/C 226 I/01)
The European Parliament notes that Regulation (EU) 2021/947 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe contains a general reference on the possibility of suspending assistance without specifying the concrete basis for such a decision. Such a suspension of assistance should be implemented where a partner country persistently fails to observe the principles of democracy, the rule of law or good governance, or respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms or for internationally recognised nuclear safety standards.
Nevertheless, the European Parliament notes that, unlike in other geographic areas of cooperation, specific provisions for the Neighbourhood area, in particular Article 20(2), provide for increased support to civil society, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, people-to-people contacts, including cooperation between local authorities, support for the improvement of human rights or crisis-related support measures, in the event of serious or persistent degradation of democracy, human rights or the rule of law, or an increased risk of conflict. The European Parliament considers that such increased support to the above-mentioned areas should be provided if such degradation occurs in countries outside the Neighbourhood area as well, and recalls that in particular Article 4(5) foresees that actions implemented through thematic programmes may also be undertaken where the geographic programme has been suspended.
The European Parliament considers that any suspension of assistance under these instruments would modify the overall financial scheme agreed under the ordinary legislative procedure. As a co-legislator and co-branch of the budgetary authority, the European Parliament is therefore entitled to fully exercise its prerogatives in that regard, if such a decision is to be taken.