Documents - Think Tank - European �Ϸ��վ

Study - Lessons learned from the implementation of crisis response tools at EU level Part 2: Future challenges, parliamentary control and policy options - 26-11-2024

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Building on Part 1, which draws lessons from the implementation of CRII, CRII+, REACT-EU and SURE, Part 2 of this study explores alternative approaches to enhance the EU budget’s capacity to respond to crises and discusses the implications of these options from the point of view of control and accountability.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Study - Issues at stake in view of the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in Baku-Scaling up climate action and support - 17-10-2024

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 22:00:00 GMT

This study provides an overview of the status of international climate negotiations and issues at stake at the COP29 climate change conference. It also addresses the current implementation of the Paris Agreement, the climate policies of key Parties and the stakeholders in the negotiations. This document was provided by the Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies at the request of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

At a Glance - Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine - 16-10-2024

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:35:56 GMT

The EU will provide a new macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan of up to €35 billion to Ukraine as part of a G7 initiative to support Ukraine with a loan of up to US$50 billion (€45 billion). The new Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism will provide revenues originating from immobilised Russian sovereign assets, so that Ukraine can service and repay loans from the EU and other G7 lenders. �Ϸ��վ is expected to adopt the proposal during its October II plenary sitting.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

At a Glance - EUSF mobilisation for 2023 flooding in Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France - 01-10-2024

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 06:41:00 GMT

The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) helps EU countries overcome natural disasters. �Ϸ��վ is scheduled to vote during the October I plenary session on a budgetary proposal to mobilise over €1 billion in EUSF funding for Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France, to deal with major flooding in 2023.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Sri Lanka's 2024 presidential elections - 12-09-2024

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 22:00:00 GMT

With a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population of 22 million, Sri Lanka is a country strategically located in South Asia at the crossroads of major shipping routes in the Indo-Pacific region. This lower middle-income country has undergone a severe economic crisis, whose consequences have been exacerbated by its economic and monetary policies, not to mention the 2019 terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Sri Lanka defaulted, and widespread popular protests prompted the resignation of the prime minister followed by the president, posts held by the Rajapaksa brothers. Ranil Wickremesinghe took over as president. The country has received assistance from the International Monetary Fund and negotiated a key debt restructuring deal in June 2024. India and China are competing to expand their influence in the country because of its geo-strategic location in the Indo-Pacific. The 99-year lease of Hambantota port to China in 2017, feeding the debt-trap narrative, has increased Indian and United States (US) concerns. Colombo boasts a nonaligned foreign policy, and has remained neutral on the war in Ukraine. European Union–Sri Lanka relations are based on a comprehensive cooperation agreement on partnership and development, which entered into force in 1995. Sri Lanka benefits from enhanced access to the European Union (EU) market under the generalised system of preferences plus, of which it is the third-largest beneficiary. �Ϸ��վ – like other international stakeholders – has underlined the importance of a national reconciliation process given the unaddressed legacy of the 1983–2009 civil war against the Tamil insurgency. �Ϸ��վ has also expressed concern over Sri Lanka's continuous application of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, systematically used for arbitrary arrests. Against this backdrop, Sri Lanka's presidential elections will take place on 21 September 2024. The EU has deployed an election observation mission, with MEP Nacho Sánchez Amor (S&D, Spain) as Chief Observer.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

At a Glance - Ukraine, the European Peace Facility and additional financing - 02-09-2024

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Two and a half years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EU military aid under the European Peace Facility (EPF) is still falling behind, with fresh money needed despite the increased EPF budget reserved for Ukraine. The new plan set in place by the EU and its G7 partners to use windfall profits from frozen Russian assets only began to provide military and reconstruction support for Ukraine with the first payment on 26 July 2024. The EU will use the EPF to channel its military aid under this recent EU-G7 plan, amid persisting legal and (geo)political uncertainties.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

At a Glance - Ukraine Facility: State of play - 16-07-2024

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 22:00:00 GMT

The Ukraine Facility is the EU's flagship programme to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and modernisation following Russia's full-scale war of aggression. The facility as defined by Regulation (EU) 2024/792 consists of three pillars and will mobilise up to €50 billion to ensure stable and predictable financial support for Ukraine between 2024 and 2027 and assist the country on its path towards EU membership. The Ukraine plan guides implementation of the facility's Pillar I: it sets the conditions and serves as framework for disbursing funds, and outlines the reform pathway for Ukraine's reconstruction and EU accession. Two tranches of exceptional bridge financing totalling €6 billion and pre-financing worth €1.9 billion have so far been transferred to Ukraine. Regular transfers of quarterly instalments from the Ukraine Facility are planned until 2027. Disbursal is conditional on Ukraine implementing the Ukraine plan quantitative and qualitative reform steps, and adhering to EU values.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Ukraine Plan conditionality: What is expected and how does it compare with similar programmes? - 05-06-2024

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 22:00:00 GMT

This paper outlines the main elements related to conditionality included in the Ukraine Plan, and compares it with the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s approach to conditionality, in particular with respect to the group of Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCS) that currently includes Ukraine.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

At a Glance - Ukraine - 23-04-2024

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:24:58 GMT

The EU is providing Ukraine with strong political and economic support, and future EU accession should support its reconstruction and modernisation, the cost of which is currently estimated at over €450 billion. This year's Ukraine Recovery Conference will seek to improve coordination and cooperation among its allies.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Briefing - EU assistance to Ukraine and scrutiny of the EU financing provided - 18-03-2024

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 23:00:00 GMT

The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) will hold an exchange of views with the parliamentary Committees on Budget and on Anti-corruption Policies of the Ukrainian �Ϸ��վ, the Verkhovna Rada, on 20 March 2024. This briefing provides background information for that debate.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

At a Glance - Establishing the Ukraine Facility - 22-02-2024

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 10:53:26 GMT

The Ukraine Facility will support Ukraine, its recovery and its path to EU accession, with up to €50 billion in grants and loans provided in the years 2024 to 2027. On 6 February 2024, the European �Ϸ��վ and the Council came to a political agreement on the establishment of the Ukraine Facility, following up on the agreement in the European Council on the revision of the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF). The MFF should finance the grants and guarantee the loans of the Facility. Additional financing is expected to come from frozen Russian assets. �Ϸ��վ managed to secure an enhanced role for the European and Ukrainian �Ϸ��վs as well as Ukrainian civil society in scrutinising the use of the Facility.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

At a Glance - European Peace Facility: Continued EU military assistance to Ukraine - 20-02-2024

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Almost two years since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EU military assistance under the European Peace Facility (EPF) is lagging. The special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024 invited the Council to agree by early March 2024 to amend the regulation establishing the EPF, in order to increase its financial ceiling.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Outcome of the special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024 - 02-02-2024

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 23:00:00 GMT

EU leaders reached a swift and unanimous decision on the long-term EU budget at the special European Council meeting of 1 February, sending a strong and united message on the EU's continued support for Ukraine. Altogether, the European Council agreed to reinforce new priorities by €64.6 billion in a revised EU multiannual financial framework (MFF). Next to the MFF, leaders discussed the EU's military support to Ukraine, calling on the Council to agree to a European Peace Facility top-up by March 2024, and welcomed the agreement on the use of profits from frozen Russian assets to support the reconstruction of Ukraine. Leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East, but again no conclusions were issued.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

In-Depth Analysis - Multilateral financial assistance to Ukraine - January 2024 - 11-01-2024

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 23:00:00 GMT

This paper provides a snapshot of multilateral financial assistance provided to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022 by the European Union and its bodies (European Investment Bank), international financial institutions (International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and groups of bilateral creditors (“The Group of Creditors of Ukraine”). The paper aims to increase understanding and support scrutiny of international financial assistance to Ukraine. The Annex provides information on the conditions attached to EU and IMF loans.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Outlook for the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 - 08-12-2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 23:00:00 GMT

The last regular European Council meeting in 2023, on 14 and 15 December, promises to be a very challenging one. All the salient topics of 2023 – notably the war in Ukraine, enlargement, revision of the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) and the conflict in the Middle East – are on the agenda; and on many of these, EU leaders are divided. Whereas the conclusions on the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East will reiterate previous positions, the European Council will focus on seeking an agreement in principle on enlargement, in particular on the possible opening of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and on granting candidate status to Georgia. It will also endeavour to find an agreement on the MFF revision. In both cases, it remains unclear whether an agreement can be found at this meeting or if it will have to be postponed until next year. The European Council meeting will be preceded by an EU-Western Balkans Summit.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Briefing - European Peace Facility: State of play on 30 November 2023 - 08-12-2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Over 20 months after the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union has so far earmarked €12 billion (in current prices) from the European Peace Facility (EPF), itself funded by the Member States, in military aid for Ukraine. Set up before the launch of Russia's war on Ukraine, the EPF was initially intended to finance military assistance worldwide, with a particular focus on Africa. The EU has directed EPF-funded support to partner countries' armies, to military components of missions led by other international organisations and to the EU's own military missions and operations. The EPF allows the EU to fund military equipment and training provided by EU Member States, including with lethal components – a first in EU history. Member States can submit requests for reimbursement from the EPF for the equipment they deliver. The common costs of EU military missions abroad (or within the EU in the exceptional case of the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine) are also covered by the EPF's operations pillar. EU military missions and operations, and a number of military missions of other international organisations, may also receive funding through the EPF's assistance pillar. kraine's military needs have risen well above the EPF's initial ceiling of €5.5 billion (in current prices), while other strategic EU neighbourhood and global areas may also need EPF funds. The EU Council has therefore adopted two top-ups, a first of €2.5 billion in March 2023, and a second of €4 billion in June 2023. According to experts, however, given rising geopolitical tensions, these remain below the amounts Ukraine needs to face and win a war of attrition. In July 2023, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a plan for a €20 billion envelope to be set aside for Ukraine within the EPF. The continued use of the EPF to support Ukraine also raises questions regarding for which equipment and what training Member States may be reimbursed, and related debates regarding the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine and the training of future Ukrainian F 16 pilots. �Ϸ��վ continues to support the use of the EPF in Ukraine and beyond, increasing its ceiling, and calls for better oversight of the EPF, as well as for a separate Ukraine envelope within the EPF.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Briefing - EU financial assistance to Palestine* - 01-12-2023

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 23:00:00 GMT

The European Union has been the biggest provider of external assistance to the Palestinian people for many years. Between 2014 and 2020, the EU allocated €2.2 billion in bilateral assistance to the Palestinians. EU assistance to the Palestinians through the European Joint Strategy 2021-2024 amounts, indicatively, to €1.18 billion. EU financial assistance to Palestine* consists of different financial tools. The largest part of the assistance falls under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – 'Global Europe' for 2021-2027. This includes supporting the establishment of an administrative structure, building new infrastructure and support to civil society. According to the European Commission, €681 million of the €1.18 billion planned overall for 2021 to 2024 has already been approved since 2021, of which €218 million has not yet been spent. On top of that, in 2022 the EU released over €26.5 million in humanitarian funding for Palestinians, according to the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). For 2023, the EU allocated €28 million in humanitarian aid for Palestinians in need. However, Hamas's barbaric terrorist attacks against people in Israel and the subsequent Israeli military operation against Hamas in response to those attacks have led to a catastrophic humanitarian situation for Palestinians living in Gaza. In response, the EU has drastically increased its humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, raising the total to €103 million for 2023. Palestinians can participate in the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programmes. Moreover, Palestine is eligible under the Interreg NEXT Mediterranean Sea Basin programme and is a beneficiary under the food and resilience facility. Following Hamas's barbaric terrorist attacks on 7 October 2023, the European Commission reviewed all financial aid for Palestine, aside from humanitarian aid, with regard to its feasibility and risks. Funds envisaged for non-feasible projects will be redistributed to other projects in the Palestinian territories. Regarding the risks, the Commission has identified some additional measures, such as the inclusion of anti-incitement contractual clauses in all new contracts. �Ϸ��վ has called on the Commission to reassess humanitarian aid needs for the region to ensure that EU funding continues to reach those in need of assistance.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

At a Glance - Mid-term revision of the 2021-2027 MFF: Interim report on Commission proposal - 28-09-2023

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 22:00:00 GMT

On 20 June 2023, the Commission made a proposal for a revision of the EU's long-term budget, to urgently address shortcomings and provide further financial support to Ukraine. Overall, the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) supports the revision in its interim report, pending the formal request from the Council, which has yet to agree its position, for consent to the revision. But BUDG says that an additional €10 billion, on top of the €65.8 billion proposed by the Commission, is needed to address the challenges properly. MEPs stress the urgency of adopting the revision so that it can be applied to the 2024 budgetary procedure.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Study - Transparency and accountability of EU funding for NGOs active in EU policy areas within EU territory - 28-09-2023

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 22:00:00 GMT

This study has been prepared for the Committee on Budgetary Control. It assesses recent developments in the transparency and accountability of EU NGO funding. The Commission has transitioned all programmes to a single, centralised grant management system that can potentially enhance the public transparency of grant funding significantly. Nevertheless, overall public transparency remains limited. The study recommends a more comprehensive, systematic approach to public transparency involving the �Ϸ��վ, Commission, and NGOs.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Study - EU-Ukraine 2035: Strategic foresight analysis on the future of the EU and Ukraine - 20-09-2023

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 22:00:00 GMT

This analysis looks at the future of the EU and Ukraine, using a time horizon of 2035. It was launched in June 2022 as a Strategic Foresight Conversation, a few months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The ensuing war has drastically changed all aspects of life in Ukraine, affects the EU in many significant ways and shifted pre-war geopolitical and geo-economic paradigms. The European Council decision of 24 June 2022 to give candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova added to the need for a long-term perspective on EU-Ukraine relations. The analysis is based on foresight methodologies, including a multi-stage stakeholder consultation and scenario building. Four scenarios examine future developments along two main axes: the Ukraine-Russia relationship, addressing the development and possible outcome of the war, characterised by the level of hazard; and the EU-Ukraine relationship, characterised by the level of integration. The resulting policy considerations address four areas of future EU action: firstly, the transition from military support towards a new European security architecture; secondly, the process of EU enlargement, reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine; thirdly, the development of an effective, green and sovereign European Union; and fourthly, continuity and review of EU relations with five countries which are key to the conflict: Russia, Belarus, Türkiye, China and the US.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Briefing - EU-Türkiye relations: Macroeconomic situation and EU financial support - 31-08-2023

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 22:00:00 GMT

Following the backsliding in democratic standards that occurred after the unsuccessful coup of 2016 and the Council of the European Union's June 2018 decision ruling out the opening of any new EU accession negotiation chapters, accession talks with Türkiye are frozen. The disputes in the eastern Mediterranean that involved some Member States, as well as the military engagement of Türkiye in Syria, provided additional tensions in relations with the EU in 2019 and 2020. In February 2020, the Commission did not mention Türkiye in its communication on the accession process setting out its new enlargement methodology. Since December 2020, a relative reduction in tension in the eastern Mediterranean has allowed the EU to re-engage with Ankara on important areas of cooperation, including modernisation of the customs union, in line with the 2016 EU-Türkiye statement, despite no advances on this specific issue. Some progress in EU-Türkiye relations has been achieved through High-level Dialogues that are held alongside regular EU-Türkiye Summits; however, the High-level Dialogue meetings on energy remain suspended. Following the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in May 2023, the European Council conclusions of 29-30 June invited the High Representative and the Commission to submit a report to the European Council on the state of play of EU-Türkiye relations. In recent years, the EU has made certain EU funds accessible to Türkiye, including through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). In addition, in 2022 the EU established the Türkiye Investment Platform to support economic growth, innovation and green investment. Furthermore, substantial refugee assistance was delivered under the EU's humanitarian and development aid instruments, mainly through the EU Facility for Refugees in Türkiye (2016-2019) and additional refugee funding mobilised by the EU in 2020-2023. Finally, following the February 2023 earthquakes, the EU, Member States and international donors provided humanitarian aid as well.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Briefing - Ukraine: Financing of reconstruction and the role of the EU budget - 28-08-2023

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 22:00:00 GMT

This briefing provides background information on the financing needs of Ukraine’s reconstruction, options to finance the process and the possible role of the EU budget, as well as the governance architecture and the involvement of the European �Ϸ��վ.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Briefing - EU Financial assistance to Africa and Latin America 2021-2027 - 22-06-2023

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 22:00:00 GMT

This briefing gives an overview of the different kind of EU funding for Africa and Latin America. Short explanations of the different types of funding are given and tables are provided with the different amounts targeting Africa and Latin America. The main EU budget instrument for funding for Africa and Latin America is the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe (NDICI). Besides the NDICI there are other funds that address humanitarian aid and emergency responses. Funding is done through different means. For example, grants, loans, investments and budget support. All these different types of funding have their pros and cons and target different issues in the partner regions. For 2024, the European Commission is planning a midterm revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. It is not yet clear if this will also have influence on the planning and implementation of the NDICI.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Briefing - Social climate fund: 'Fit for 55' package - 15-06-2023

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 12:23:38 GMT

On 14 July 2021, the European Commission adopted the 'fit for 55' package of legislative proposals to meet the new EU objective of a minimum 55 % reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The package is part of the Commission's European Green Deal, which aims to set the EU firmly on the path towards net zero GHG emissions (climate neutrality) by 2050. The fit for 55 package includes a regulation establishing a new social climate fund (SCF). The aim of the SCF is to help vulnerable households, micro-businesses and transport users counter the additional costs they may face when the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive is revised to cover these two sectors. The SCF should provide up to €65 billion in EU funding over the 2026-2032 period, mainly through ETS credits in the buildings and road transport sectors. Member States are expected to co-finance 25% of the total estimated cost of their social plans. The fund can be used for temporary direct income support, as well as investments in energy efficiency-related building renovations and sustainable transport. Trilogue negotiations concluded on 18 December 2022 with a provisional agreement, which was then formally adopted by the �Ϸ��վ and the Council in April 2023. The adopted text was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 16 May 2023 and entered into force on 5 June 2023. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Briefing - Background information for the BUDG public hearing on: Financial impact of the war in Ukraine - current and future challenges for the EU budget - 02-05-2023

Thu, 04 May 2023 22:00:00 GMT

The Committee on Budgets (BUDG) held a public hearing on 26 April 2023, with the objective to explore the short and long term reconstruction needs of Ukraine and financing thereof. This briefing provided background information about Ukraine’s financing needs, options to finance the reconstruction process and the possible role of the EU budget, as well as the governance architecture and the involvement of the European �Ϸ��վ.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Documents - Think Tank - European �Ϸ�������վ