Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Annual Report from the European Commission on the Instrument for Stability in 2008 {SEC(2009)932}
Date: 2009-07-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: activity report, cooperation policy, development aid, foreign policy, international security

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 9.7.2009 
COM(2009) 341 final 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND 
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Annual report from the European Commission 
on the Instrument for Stability in 2008 

{SEC(2009)932} 

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INTRODUCTION 

This report is submitted to the European Parliament and the Council in compliance 
with the reporting requirement set out in Article 23 of Regulation (EC) N°1717/2006 
of  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  of  15  November  2006  establishing  an 
Instrument for Stability (the IfS Regulation). This article states:  

‘The  Commission  shall  examine  progress  achieved  in  implementing  the  measures 
undertaken pursuant to this Regulation and shall submit to the European Parliament 
and the Council an annual report on the implementation of the assistance. The report 
shall  also  be  addressed  to  the  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the 
Committee  of  the  Regions.  The  report  shall  contain  information  relating  to  the 
previous year on the measures financed and information on the results of monitoring 
and  evaluation  exercises  and  the  implementation  of  budget  commitments  and 
payments, broken down by country, region and cooperation sector’. 

This report is also submitted in complement to the information already provided in 
accordance with the reporting requirement of Article 6(6) of the IfS Regulation. The 
practice  established  by  the  Commission  since  2007  is  to  systematically  inform  the 
Council  as  well  as  the  European  Parliament  of  Exceptional  Assistance  Measures 
about to be supported under the IfS as part of the EU’s crisis response. In view of the 
need to keep the reporting requirements on each individual programme manageable, 
the  annual  reports  also  provide  for  a  global  implementation  update  on  all  on-going 
measures earlier described, including those aspects on which information could not 
be provided upstream of the start of implementation. These updates are provided in 
the annexes to the Report. 

1. 

BACKGROUND TO THE INSTRUMENT FOR STABILITY 

1.1. 

Crisis Response 

EC  external  instruments  have  for  a  number  of  years  been  providing  the 
Commission’s  contribution  to  the  Union’s  overall  crisis  responses,  be  it  in 
response to natural disasters or to political crises in third countries, in the latter case 
often  alongside  EU  Joint  Actions  under  the  Common  Foreign  and  Security  Policy 
(CFSP)  or  the  European  Security  and  Defence  Policy  (ESDP).  These  instruments, 
such  as  the  Rapid  Reaction  Mechanism  and  the  Africa  Peace  Facility  could  thus 
provide  a  critical  bridging  function  vis-à-vis  an  effective  deployment  of  the 
Community’s geographical or thematic instruments, contributing to the objectives of, 
and building synergies with, relevant country or regional strategies. 

The launch of the Instrument for Stability (IfS) in 2007 considerably enhanced 
the  Commission’s  crisis  response  capacity,  since  the  crisis  response  component 
constitutes 
the  budget 
this  new 
reconciliation on 21 November 2008, reduced to €1.3 billion over seven years) 1.  

instrument  (following 

largest  part  of 

the 

1 

According  to  Article  24  of  the  IfS  Regulation,  the  overall  financial  envelope  for  the  Instrument  for 
Stability for the period 2007-2013 is €2.062 billion. Out of this amount,  the regulation specifies that no 
more than respectively 7%, 15% and 5% shall be allocated to measures falling under Articles 4(1), 4(2) 
and  4(3),  representing  a  maximum  of  €557  million.  This  would  leave  at  least  73%  of  the  total  for 
measures  falling  under  Article  3  or  ‘crisis  response’.  However,  after  the  budget  reconciliation  in 
November  2008,  resulting  in  the  reallocation  of  €240  million  from  19.0601  to  the  Food  Facility,  the 

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Compared  to  the  previous  Rapid  Reaction  Mechanism,  the  crisis  response 
component of the IfS represents a considerable increase in financial allocations 
(€93 million in 2007 and €129 million in 2008, with an average of €185 million per 
year  for  crisis  responses  during  the  period  2007-2013)  and  in  the  duration  of 
programmes (18 months, with the possibility of extension under certain conditions). 
The  measures  adopted  under  Article  3  of  the  IfS  Regulation,  namely  ‘assistance  in 
response to situations of crisis or emerging crisis’ are identified by Directorate A of 
the  Directorate-General  for  External  Relations  (DG  RELEX)  of  the  European 
Commission,  together  with  the  responsible  geographic  services  of  the  RELEX 
family, and often with a substantial involvement of Commission Delegations in third 
countries.  Responsibility  for  downstream  programme  decision  and  implementation 
rests  with  DG  RELEX/A,  while  Commission  Delegations  in  many  cases  are 
entrusted  with  project  management  in-country.  Progress  in  2008  is  described  in 
section 2 of this report. 

1.2.  Measures addressing longer-term trans-regional security threats under Articles 

4(1) and 4(2) of the IfS Regulation 

The IfS also contains a longer term component, providing for ‘assistance in the 
context of stable conditions for cooperation’. 

In  the  Instrument  for  Stability  Strategy  Paper  2007-2013,  the  Commission  has 
identified  the  priorities  for  longer-term  actions  under  Article  4(1)  and  Article  4(2). 
First, to support international efforts to address the proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction,  through  actions  aiming  at  improving  effective  control  of  chemical, 
biological, radiological and nuclear materials and agents, control of dual-use goods, 
and the redirection of weapons scientists’ knowledge towards peaceful activities (€53 
million for 2007-08). Second, to support global and trans-regional efforts to address 
the threats posed by trafficking, terrorism and organised crime (€19 million for 2007-
08). 

Two additional  priorities under Article 4(1) are threats to critical infrastructure and 
critical maritime routes with a potential trans-national dimension. These latter areas 
are  new  and  will  require  extensive  preparation  to  design  specific  programmes.  The 
Commission  has  included  these  two  areas  in  the  subsequent  Indicative  Programme 
for 2009-2011. 

This  component  is  programmed  by  DG  RELEX  but  managed  under  direct 
responsibility of EuropeAid Co-operation Office (DG AIDCO). Progress in 2008 on 
this component is described in Section 4 of this report. 

1.3. 

‘Pre-  and  post-crisis  capacity  building  measures’  under  Article  4(3)  of  the  IfS 
Regulation (hereafter referred to as ‘crisis preparedness’). 

For  the  period  2007-2008,  €15  million  were  programmed  and  committed  for  this 
component,  out  of  which  €7  million  fo r  2007  and  €8  million  for  2008.  Progress  in 
2008  on  this  component,  which  is  also  managed  centrally  by  DG  RELEX/A,  is 
described in Section 3 of this report. 

available amount for crisis response would be reduced to between €1.27 – 1.29 billion over the period 
2007-2013, as opposed to an initial planning of €1.49 billion. 

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2. 

CRISIS  RESPONSES  UNDER THE INSTRUMENT FOR STABILITY (ARTICLE 3, BUDGET 
HEADING 19.06.01) 

2.1. 

The IfS as part of the EU’s broader crisis response toolbox 

In  order  for  the  EU  to  play  an  enhanced  role  as  a  foreign  and  security  policy 
actor, it must have an effective capacity to respond to crisis situations in third 
countries,  to  assist  bringing  these  countries  back  on  the  road  of  sustainable 
development.  Strengthening  the  Union’s  capacities  to  respond  to  the  world’s  crises 
means both reinforcing the various instruments at the Union’s disposal (civilian and 
military  crisis  management  instruments,  diplomacy,  as  well  as  development 
cooperation  or  trade  policy),  and  ensuring  that  these  instruments  can  be  made  to 
work  together  coherently  towards  the  objectives  of  relevant  country  and  regional 
strategies  for  peace,  stability  and  sustainable  development.  The  IfS  constitutes  an 
important addition to Community instruments in response to crisis situations. These 
Community  instruments,  together  with  EU  Joint  Actions  under  CFSP/ESDP  and 
dedicated  envelopes  under  other  Community  geographic  instruments,  constitute  the 
essence of the EU’s crisis response capability. 

2.2. 

Genesis and adoption of IfS crisis response programmes  

By their very nature, IfS crisis response programmes can not be programmed in 
advance.  They  are  developed  in  response  to  situations  of  crisis  or  emerging 
crisis,  when  support  cannot  be  provided  rapidly  enough  under  other  EC  financial 
instruments, taking account of horizontal and geographical objectives and priorities 
of the EU. Actions undertaken shall be complementary and also seek synergies with 
Community geographic policies and instruments. Typically, the IfS can be mobilised 
in  the  case  of  a  major  new  political  crisis  or  natural  disaster,  or  a  window  of 
opportunity to pre-empt a crisis or an opportunity to advance conflict resolution, or 
the need to secure the conditions for the delivery of EC assistance. 

When  used  in  response  to  political  crises,  IfS  measures  have  in  a  number  of 
cases been crafted and deployed alongside CFSP / ESDP missions, most recently 
in Georgia, where after the August conflict the IfS crisis response financed urgently 
needed support in the amount of €15 million for the more than 30,000 IDP’s and for 
clearance of unexploded ordinance in parallel to the deployment of EUMM Georgia. 
Another  example  for  an  effective  IfS  dovetailing  with  ESDP  and  geographic 
instruments  and  development  cooperation  strategies,  are  Chad  and  the  Central 
African Republic, where alongside, and in support of the EUFOR mission, the IfS is 
delivering  €15  million  for  the  MINURCAT  police  programme  protecting  refugee 
camps  and  the  election  census  in  Chad,  as  well  as  €6.5  million  for  security  system 
reform in the Central African Republic. At the same time, cooperation under the B- 
envelope of the 9th EDF finances the €13 million  Programme d'Accompagnement à 
la Stabilisation, aiming at generating the conditions (food security, rehabilitation of 
social  infrastructures,  restoration  of  rule  of  law  and  mediation  mechanisms)  for  a 
sustainable return of IDPs to their villages of origin. To ensure follow up, under the 
10th  EDF  €25  million  are  earmarked  to  suppor t  the  reform  of  the  justice  sector, 
including further assistance to a second phase of MINURCAT. 

IfS  approval  procedures  are  designed  to  ensure  rapid  adoption  of  crisis 
response  programmes  up  to  €20  million.  At  the  same  time,  IfS  actions  are  very 
political,  and  can  just  not  be  deployed  lightly,  which  requires  the  necessary 
investment  of  time  for  proper  political  consultation  within  the  EU,  the  country 
authorities, and with other international actors.  

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2.3. 

IfS crisis response programmes adopted in the course of 2008  

2.3.1.  Budgetary execution 

Regarding  commitment  appropriations,  the  budget  for  Crisis  Response  and 
Preparedness  (19.0601)  rose  by  more  than  one  third  from  €100  million  in  2007  to 
€136.871 million in 2008. Out of this amount, 
€128.87 million was committed for 
Crisis Response.2 Commitments at year-end showed an execution rate of 100%3. 
Another indicator for a substantial improvement in timely delivery of crisis responses 
is  the  fact  that  75%  of  these  commitments  have  already  been  contracted  (€96 
million), as compared to 45% in 2007. 

The original level of payment appropriations on the 2008 budget for 19.0601 of €70 
million appeared to be insufficient in the course of the year. Therefore, a transfer of 
additional  payment  appropriations  of  €37  million  had  to  be  requested.  The  final 
execution  has  been  €92  million,  which 
is  an  almost  threefold  increase  when 
compared to the payment levels in 2007. In percentage points, this represents 85% 
of the total appropriations in 2008 (including the reinforcement), which is also higher 
than the execution rate in 2007 (68%).  

2.3.2.  Programmes adopted in 2008 

In  its  second  year  of  operation  the  Stability  Instrument  has  financed  again  a 
significant  number  of  crisis  response  projects  by  adopting  Exceptional  Assistance 
Measures  pursuant  to  the  IfS  Regulation.  All  in  all,  26  financing  decisions, 
including  two  new  IfS  facilities  and  16  actions  under  the  IfS  facilities  have  been 
adopted and committed in 2008. A complete list of all financing decisions adopted in 
2008 under 19.0601 is included in the Annexes to the Report.  

Major crisis response actions in 2008 include assistance to resolve the conflict in 
the  Democratic  Republic  of  Congo  (€10  million),  support  to  the  fragile  peace 
process and transition in Nepal (€5.95  million ), post-conflict support  to Internally 
Displaced  People  in  Georgia  (€15  million) ,  continuing  support  to  peace-building 
in Kosovo in the amount of €14.2 million  during the difficult transition following 
its  declaration  of  independence  and  the  launch  of  the  EU’s  EULEX  mission,  a 
substantial recovery programme in Bangladesh following the devastating cyclone 
SIDR  (€13  million) ,  and  also  additional  support  to  the  fragile  reconciliation 
process in Lebanon to help prepare the 2009 elections (€4 million).  In addition, 
two  new  facilities  in  support  of  smaller-scale  and  urgent  actions  for  transitional 
justice  and  international  tribunals  (€12  million),  as  well  as  for  mediation  and 
reconciliation (€5.5 million), have been adopted.  

Two years after its start,  the Stability  Instrument crisis response component is  now 
well established as a highly complementary EU crisis management tool. In terms of 
geographic  distribution,  €220  million  were  committed  in   total  in  2007  and  2008 
for 59 actions worldwide.  

Seen  over  the  past  two  years,  the  main  share  of  support  was  provided  in  Africa 
(mainly  DRC,  CAR,  Chad,  Somalia  -  29%),  followed  by  actions  in  Asia  (mainly 
Afghanistan,  Sri  Lanka,  Nepal,  Southern  Thailand,  Aceh,  East-Timor  -  19%),  the 

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The  remainder  of  €8  million  was  committed  for  meas ures  under  Article  4.3,  Crisis  Preparedness,  see 
below. 
On 19.0601, the full amount of €1 36.871 million in C1 credits was committed. In addition, €236,868.50 
was committed in C4 credits. 

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Middle  East  (Lebanon,  Palestine,  Iraqi  Refugees  in  Syria  –  12%),  Kosovo  (€24 
million) and Georgia (€17 million). 

Thematically, the adopted  measures cover a  broad range of issues, targeted on the 
specific  needs  of  each  conflict/post-conflict  situation:  short-term  advice  to  develop 
and  kick-start  post-conflict  security  system  reform  (CAR,  DRC,  Guinea-Bissau, 
Lebanon,  Palestine,  Timor-Leste),  measures  in  areas  where  ESDP  missions  are 
deployed (Georgia, Kosovo, DRC, Afghanistan, Chad, Palestine), support to regional 
peace-building  capacity  (AU  –  AMISOM  Somalia,  AU-UN  Mediation  in  Darfur), 
Rule  of  Law  and  transitional  justice  (Afghanistan,  Kyrgyzstan,  Colombia,  Haiti, 
Sierra  Leone,  Solomon  Islands),  support  to  interim  administrations  (ICO  Kosovo), 
conflict  resolution  and  reconciliation  (Sri  Lanka,  Thailand,  Colombia,  Uganda, 
Zimbabwe,  Peru,  Palestine,  Burma,  Nepal),  post-conflict  and  -disaster  recovery 
programmes  and  needs  assessments  (Bangladesh,  Nicaragua,  Lebanon,  Peru), 
support to displaced populations (Lebanon, Syria), and conflict resources (dedicated 
facility). 

2.4. 

The  IfS  facilities:  First  and  Second  Policy  Advice  and  Mediation  Facility 
(PAMF), Conflict Resources Facility, and Transitional Justice Facility 

In light of the positive experience gained from the RRM, certain key thematic areas 
of  crisis  response  typically  requiring  the  immediate  launch  of  smaller  actions  have 
been covered by IfS financing decisions adopting Facilities. These areas now include 
Policy  Advice  and  Mediation,  Conflict  Resources  and  Transitional  (post-conflict) 
Justice. The facilities enable the financing of urgent, smaller, and targeted measures 
at the sub-delegated level, without a need for an individual financing decision.  

The  Facilities  adopted  in  2007  on  Policy  Advice  and  Mediation  (PAMF,  €10 
million)  and  Conflict  Resources  (CRF,  €2  million )  have  been  fully  used  and 
contracted by the end of 2008. Under the PAMF, five actions were financed in 2007 
and 12 in 2008. These included short-term and urgent policy advice and expertise in 
Guinea-Bissau, Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Myanmar and other crisis 
settings, as well as the financing of joint post-disaster needs assessments with the UN 
and the World Bank in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Haiti and Ukraine. Under the CRF, a 
total of 5 actions were financed in support of the fight against illegal diamond mining 
and  trade  as  part  of  the  Kimberley  Process  and  the  illegal  exploitation  of  other 
natural resources in other areas. 

In 2008, a new facility was adopted on transitional justice for €12 million in order to 
provide  timely  and  focused  assistance  to  international  tribunals  and  transitional 
justice  initiatives.  The  Commission’s  implementing  partners  are  international  and 
regional organisations, state and non-state actors and/or the specific tribunals and truth 
commissions. A first action was already contracted in 2008 for €2.5 million providing 
urgently  needed  financing  for  the  International  Tribunal  trying  the  war  crimes 
committed  by  Charles  Taylor  in  Sierra  Leone.  In  addition,  €5.5  million  were 
committed for a decision on a second PAMF in December 2008. 

2.5. 

Progress on Crisis Response programmes adopted in 2007 

Almost all of the of the 2007 crisis response commitments have been contracted, 
with  a  rate  of  97%.  Payments  on  these  contracts  amount  to  65%.  With  a  project 
duration mostly between 12 and 18 months, the majority of 2007 measures are still 
under implementation, while delivering on the ground. A number of measures have 
been completed in the meantime, such as the justice reform project in Afghanistan. 

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Detail  on  operational  progress  and  impact  on  the  2007  measures  is  provided  in  the 
Annexes. 

2.6. 

Role of Commission Delegations 

Close and regular monitoring of all IfS programmes is ensured by EC Delegations in 
the beneficiary countries. Delegations are in many cases providing project proposals 
to Commission headquarters and are also directly responsible for the implementation 
of adopted assistance programmes. 

As  in  2007,  the  majority  of  projects  –  21  out  of  26  financing  decisions  and  three 
actions under the IfS facilities - have been sub-delegated for implementation to the 
Delegations in the country concerned. As a result 40 contracts have been signed by 
Delegations under 19.0601 in 2008. In total, 40 crisis response actions representing 
€180  million  have  been  sub-delegated  to   27  Commission  Delegations  since  2007. 
This allows not only negotiation and conclusion of contracts with local counterparts 
and  timely  adjustments  if  needed,  but  also  the  close  monitoring  of  project 
implementation in the field. 

2.7. 

Further lessons learnt 

The  operation  of  the  crisis  response  component  of  the  IfS  continues  to  be 
successful and is meeting the objectives of the Regulation. Again, the 2008 crisis 
response  budget  was  entirely  committed.  The  organisational  structures  within  the 
RELEX family have proven to be adequate and responsive in order to allow for rapid 
programme  identification  and  adoption.  The  programmes  adopted  have  contributed 
to  efforts  in  responding  to  crises  around  the  world,  usefully  (and  sometimes 
crucially)  complementing  other  EU  crisis  response  measures,  such  as  in  Georgia, 
Kosovo, Chad and the Central African Republic. 

In  order  to  gain  a  more  detailed  understanding  of  impact,  effectiveness,  efficiency, 
sustainability  and  other  outputs  of  the  IfS  crisis  response  component,  the 
Commission  is  intending  to  conduct  a  programme-wide  evaluation  in  2009  on  the 
basis of measures adopted in 2007 and 2008 insofar as they have advanced enough to 
allow for useful analysis. The evaluation will be shared with Parliament and Council 
once finalised. 

3. 

THE  CRISIS  PREPAREDNESS  COMPONENT  OF  THE  STABILITY  INSTRUMENT 
(ARTICLE 4.3, BUDGET HEADING 19.06.01)  

Regarding the Stability Instrument’s ‘crisis preparedness’ component, 2008 saw 
further  progress  in  consolidating  the  Peace-building  Partnership  (PbP),  which 
aims  at  mobilising  and  consolidating  civilian  expertise  for  peace-building 
activities.  It  focuses  on  strengthening  up-stream  capacity  of  relevant  partners  to 
rapidly  respond to  crisis, and addresses in  particular  civil society organisations and 
think-tanks, but also international and regional organisations and relevant agencies in 
EU Member States. 

In 2008, the total financial envelope of € 15 million committed in 2007 and 2008 
was  allocated,  and  the  components  and  objectives  identified  in  the  respective 
Annual Action Programmes (AAPs) were implemented. 

In this context, two calls for proposals for civil society organisations were launched 
in the framework of Peace-building Partnership support: a call to reinforce capacity 
building, and the first phase of a call on the organisation of round tables. Successful 

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proposals under the capacity-building call represented a mixture of transversal, inter-
regional, and crisis-specific capacity-building actions with a wide geographic spread 
(European  neighbourhood,  Africa,  Asia,  the  Caribbean,  etc.).  For  the  first  phase  of 
the call on the organization of round tables, successful applications again constituted 
both transversal and crisis-specific proposals, with activities focused on the European 
neighbourhood. 

Moreover,  direct  grants  were  awarded  -  in  the  context  of  the  co-operation  with 
international  organisations  on  early  warning  and  early  recovery  -  to  the  African 
Union (support to the African Union’s Continental Early Warning System), to UNDP 
(for co-operation on post-conflict and post-disaster needs assessments, and on natural 
resources and conflict), and to relevant EU Member States’ training agencies in the 
framework of training for civilian stabilisation missions. 

Over  the  year,  the  dialogue  process  with  civil  society  organizations  was  further 
developed through the organisation of a series of consultation meetings (in February, 
June  and  October)  and  the  use  of  the  Peace-building  Partnership  web-portal  as  a 
channel of communication with PbP partners.  

With  regard  to  the  ‘Initiative  for  Peace-building’  (formerly  known  as  the  ‘Conflict 
Prevention Network’) – which is gradually being integrated into the PbP –, the work 
of  the  ten  civil  society  organisations  co-operating  on  this  action  has  focused  on 
integrating  the  complementary  knowledge  of  the  partners  in  six  cluster  areas: 
mediation;  regional  co-operation  on  environment,  economy  and  natural  resources; 
security;  democratization  and  transitional  justice;  gender;  capacity-building  and 
training. Within these clusters, work focuses on harnessing this expertise in order to 
facilitate conflict prevention and peace-building policy and practice. 

4. 

THE  LONG-TERM  PART  OF  THE  STABILITY  INSTRUMENT  (ARTICLES  4.1  AND  4.2, 
BUDGET HEADINGS 19.0603 AND 19.0602) 

On the basis of the Strategy Paper 2007-2011 and the Indicative Programme for the 
years 2007-2008 the following activities were carried out in 2008: 

4.1. 

19.0603  -  Trans-regional  actions  in  the  areas  of  organised  crime,  trafficking, 
protection  of  critical  infrastructure,  threats  to  public  health  and  the  fight 
the 
against 
proliferation of light arms 

terrorism  &  19.060203  Community  policy  on  combating 

All activities under the AAP 2007 (€ 9 M)  were entirely contracted. The AAP 2008 
(€13.3  M)  was  adopted  in  November  2008.  It   provides  further  financing  for  the 
Expert  Support  Facility  (ESF)  and  for  tackling  trafficking  from/to  Afghanistan,  as 
well  as  addressing  the  illicit  accumulation  and  trafficking  in  firearms,  the  fight 
against  organised  crime  and  counter-terrorism  in  Africa,  and  the  prevention  and 
diversion of the drugs precursors in the LAC region.  

The ESF, a mechanism for mobilising high-profile experts to support programming 
and identification of measures in multiple areas of trans-regional threats to security, 
was successfully implemented in 2008. A call for expressions of interest addressed to 
Member  States  was  launched,  and  five  contracts  with  Member  States  agencies-led 
consortia  were  signed,  plus  one  agreement  for  specific  technical  support  with  the 
Commission’s  Joint  Research  Centre.  In  addition,  five  workshops  and  missions  in 
more than 40 countries were organised.  

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4.2. 

The  large  project  “Fight  against  trafficking  from/to  Afghanistan”  for  an  amount  of 
€9.5  million  (1 st  and  2nd  phase)  was  signed  with  GtZ  on  behalf  of  a  consortium 
including  EU  Member  States,  UNODC  and  Interpol,  in  December  2008.  The 
PRELAC project (Fight against trafficking of drugs precursors in Latin America and 
the  Caribbean)  was  signed  in  December  2008  with  UNODC  and  will  start 
implementation in the first quarter of 2009. A project on supporting the fight against 
the  illicit  accumulation  and  trafficking  in  firearms  in  Central  America  and 
neighboring  countries  was  signed  through  a  separate  Special  Measure  adopted  in 
December 2008.  

Bearing  in  mind  that  the  first  project  identified  under  AAP  2007  started  at  the 
beginning of 2009 and is in a very early stage of implementation, any lessons learnt 
can be foreseen for 2010. 

19.0602  -  Actions  in  the  area  of  risk  mitigation  and  preparedness  relating  to 
chemical, nuclear and biological materials or agents  
The  2008  Annual  Action  Programme  (AAP,  €23.5  million 4)  was  adopted  in 
December 2008. It provides for support to alternative employment of former weapon 
scientists  and  engineers  through  the  ISTC/STCU  (International  Science  and 
Technology Centre in Moscow / Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine in Kiev), 
for  strengthening  civilian  capabilities  and  exchange  of  information  to  fight  illicit 
trafficking of CBRN materials, for reinforcing export controls of dual-use goods and 
for  improving  capabilities  against  biological  threats.  More  detail  is  provided  in  the 
annex. 

All  activities  defined  in  2007  AAP  for  Article  4.2  were  entirely  contracted  and 
started  in  2008.  Taking  into  account  that  the  first  projects  have  started  only  some 
months  ago,  no  evaluations  were  conducted  to  date;  it  is  however  foreseen  that 
evaluations and audits will be carried out in 2010. 

While activities in most fields covered by Article 4.2 were historically focused on the 
former Soviet Union, including in the AAPs 2007/2008, efforts have now been made 
to enlarge the geographical scope of support. New regions/countries are benefitting 
from IfS support for activities aiming at the improvement of their capacities in export 
controls and prevention of illicit trafficking of CBRN materials: five countries in the 
Western  Balkans,  Albania,  Turkey,  Morocco,  Tunisia,  Egypt,  UAE,  China  and 
Thailand. In addition, exploratory expert missions performed in the framework of the 
Expert Support Facility confirmed that the capacity of countries in South-East Asia, 
the Middle East and parts of Africa needs to be strengthened. These countries will be 
included in the future scope of support under Article 4.2. 

5. 

CONCLUSION 

In  the  wake  of  its  second  year  of  operation,  the  IfS  established  itself  as  a  highly 
useful instrument within the armoury of the EU’s crisis management tools. 

The  IfS,  together  with  other  relevant  Community  instruments,  forms  an  important 
part  of  the  EU’s  comprehensive  approach  to  crisis  management  which  has  gained 

4 

The initial total appropriations on 19.060201 for 2008 were € 27 million of which € 1.5 million were 
transferred to 19.080103 for Georgia and € 2 million  contribution to Expert Support Facility (ESF) are 
included in AAP2008 under Art 4.1. 

EN 

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significant  support  in  the  EU  and  globally  and  this  was  highlighted  in  last  year’s 
report on the European Security Strategy.  

Good  co-operation  with  Member  States,  European  Parliament  and  Council 
Secretariat has enabled the Commission to fashion IfS programmes, both short and 
long term, to respond to essential needs. 

It  is  important  that  the  IfS  continues  to  be  strongly  funded  in  light  of  increasing 
demands which are made for IfS interventions. 

EN 

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   EN