P7_TA(2013)0568

Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance ***I

European Parliament legislative resolution of 11 December 2013 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) (COM(2011)0838 — C7-0491/2011 — 2011/0404(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

(2016/C 468/69)

The European Parliament,

having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 212(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C7-0491/2011),

having regard to the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 4 December 2013 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on International Trade, the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Regional Development (A7-0445/2013),

Approves the statements by Parliament and the joint statement by the European Parliament, Council and Commission annexed to this resolution;

Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

(1) OJ C 11, 15.1.2013, p. 77.

(2) OJ C 391, 18.12.2012, p. 110.

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 11 December 2013 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) No …/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II)

ANNEX TO THE LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Declaration by the European Commission on the strategic dialogue with the European Parliament (1)

On the basis of Article 14 TEU, the European Commission will conduct a strategic dialogue with the European Parliament prior to the programming of the Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) and after initial consultation of its relevant beneficiaries, where appropriate. The European Commission will present to the European Parliament the relevant available documents on programming with indicative allocations foreseen per country/region, and, within a country/region, priorities, possible results and indicative allocations foreseen per priority for geographic programmes, as well as the choice of assistance modalities (2). The European Commission will present to the European Parliament the relevant available documents on programming with thematic priorities, possible results, choice of assistance modalities2, and financial allocations for such priorities foreseen in thematic programmes. The European Commission will take into account the position expressed by the European Parliament on the matter.

The European Commission will conduct a strategic dialogue with the European Parliament in preparing the mid-term review and before any substantial revision of the programming documents during the period of validity of this Regulation.

The European Commission, if invited by the European Parliament, will explain where the European Parliament's observations have been taken into consideration in the programming documents and any other follow-up given to the strategic dialogue.

Joint Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission concerning the funding of horizontal programmes for minorities

The European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission agree that point (ii) of point (a) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) is to be interpreted as allowing the funding of programmes aimed at enhancing respect for and protection of minorities in line with the Copenhagen criteria, as it was the case under Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 of the Council of 17 July 2006 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).

Declaration of the European Commission on the use of implementing acts for laying down provisions for the implementation of certain rules in Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument and in Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II)

The European Commission considers that the rules for implementing cross-border cooperation programmes as set out in Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 laying down common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union's instruments for financing external action and other specific, more detailed implementing rules in Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument and in Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II), aim at supplementing the basic act and should therefore be delegated acts to be adopted on the basis of Article 290 TFEU. The European Commission will not oppose the adoption of the text as agreed by the co-legislators. Nevertheless, the European Commission recalls that the question of delimitation between Articles 290 and 291 TFEU is currently under examination by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the ‘biocides’ case.

Statement by the European Parliament on the suspension of assistance granted under the financial instruments

The European Parliament notes that Regulation (EU) No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020, Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument, Regulation (EU) No 234/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a Partnership Instrument for cooperation with third countries and Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) do not contain any explicit reference to the possibility of suspending assistance in cases where a beneficiary country fails to observe the basic principles enunciated in the respective instrument and notably the principles of democracy, rule of law and the respect for human rights.

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.

Statement by the European Parliament on the Beneficiaries listed in Annex I of the Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II)

The European Parliament notes that the Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) uses the term ‘the beneficiaries listed in Annex I’ throughout the text. The European Parliament considers that this term applies to countries.

(1) The European Commission will be represented at the responsible Commissioner level.

(2) Where applicable.