18.2 billion euros for neighbours: EU announces substantial new funds under European Neighbourhood Instrument

The EU is proposing a substantial increase in funding for its neighbourhood partners, with a proposed budget of €18.2 billion under its new European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) for the period 2014-2020, 40 per cent up on the amount available under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) from 2007-2013.

“This significant increase reflects the increased priority of the European Neighbourhood Policy in the overall foreign policy of the EU,” said a press release from the European Commission, on the day that the EC adopted budget proposals for its nine external instruments worth a total of more than €96 billion from 2014-2020.

“Even in times of crisis, Europe must look outwards and engage in the world,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton. “Our security and prosperity depend on what happens beyond our borders, not least in our own neighbourhood. The EU will stand by its international commitments to the poorest and most vulnerable people, to those in our neighbourhood undergoing transition and those in countries on a path to joining the Union.”

EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle told a press conference that “the new European Neighbourhood Instrument is the complement of our more ambitious approach towards our neighbours that we outlined in the Joint Communication on the ENP released last May. It is part of the overall response to the evolution of our relationships with our neighbours and also a direct answer to the revolutionary movements to the south of the EU.”

He said the increased budget showed the EU was prepared to match its words with deeds, in order to ensure the success of the democratisation process and to improve economic and social development.

Füle explained the ENI would be based on the new principles of the ENP, “in particular 'More for More' and increased differentiation”.

“Implementing the new European Neighbourhood Policy through the new ENI needs to be done together with the citizens and governments in our partner countries,” the Commissioner said. “In line with the new approach to the ENP, I intend to make sure that that the voice of Civil Society will be heard and that their opinions and suggestions are taken into account when preparing and delivering our assistance.”

Like the ENPI, the new ENI will continue to provide the bulk of funding to the European Neighbourhood countries, essentially through bilateral, regional and cross border co-operation programmes.

Today’s texts are the legal proposals to implement the Multiannual Financial Framework presented by the European Commission on 29 June 2011, in the area of external action.

The total amount proposed for the nine geographic and thematic instruments involved is €96,249.4 million over the period 2014-2020 (current prices).

Pre-accession instrument (IPA): €14,110 million

European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI): €18,182 million

Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI): €23,295 million

Partnership Instrument (PI): €1,131 million

Instrument for Stability (IfS): €2,829 million

European Instrument for Democracy & Human Rights (EIDHR): €1,578 million

Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation: €631 million

Instrument for Greenland: €219 million

European Development Fund (EDF, outside EU Budget): €34,276 million

The package will be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council and is expected to be adopted in 2012.