MEPs could scupper accord on Mediterranean funding

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 11/05/06

EU member states have reached a compromise on controversial proposals to set a quota for funds for the southern and eastern Mediterranean, but Council of Ministers officials are warning that the European Parliament could still derail the agreement.

Member states were in disagreement over French demands that at least one-third of the EU's estimated EUR 13.9 billion assistance to its neighbours in the period 2007-13 go to northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.

The demands were

supported by Italy, Spain and other Mediterranean member states.

Member states were in disagreement over French demands that at least one-third of the EU's estimated EUR 13.9 billion assistance to its neighbours in the period 2007-13 go to northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.

The demands were supported by Italy, Spain and other Mediterranean member states.

Other states argued that the proposals would cancel budget reforms currently being discussed.

In 2004 the Commission proposed merging existing funding mechanisms for countries on the EU's eastern borders with those for the Mediterranean region when the next EU budget period begins in 2007.

Under the proposals the so-called TACIS (eastern European and central Asia) and MEDA (eastern Mediterranean and northern Africa) funding programmes, as well as the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, would become a single 'European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument' (ENPI).

Opposition to France's wish to protect funding for north Africa and the eastern Mediterranean came from some of the member states of eastern and central Europe who joined the EU two years ago.

A diplomat from one of those member states asked: "Why make it one instrument if you are going to carve it up?"

Similarly some diplomats from outside the EU expressed concern that the French demands would undermine the flexibility of the new instrument, which it was hoped would promote more cross-border and inter-regional co-operation.

But Council diplomats argued that some degree of targeting between the two regions was reasonable in order to make sure that the better-organised countries and non-governmental organisations in eastern Europe did not mop up all the funds.

"One should not forget that the southern Mediterranean has very strong needs," said Nicolas de La Grandville, a spokesperson for the French permanent representation to the EU.

Under the compromise, the Commission would issue a declaration, which according to one official would pledge that future funding "would continue to respect already established regional commitments".

The Commission has defended its decision to merge funding for the two regions, saying it would also simplify funding procedures which many recipients complain are too rigid and laborious.

"We have reduced the number of mechanisms from 36 to five," said one Commission official, "it makes sense."

The Parliament had pressed for each of the five new external assistance mechanisms to be dealt with separately before it gives its assent.

Council diplomats have rejected these calls, insisting that the negotiations on the ENPI are intertwined with the negotiations on other external assistance mechanisms set out in the next budget.

"It is all or nothing," said one of the Council diplomats.

Council officials are warning that if Parliament does not approve the compromise proposals, the text will have to be re-opened.e proposals, the text will have to be re-opened.

Article reports on potential opposition from the European Parliament to a compromise reached by Member States on allocating quotas to neighbouring regions in the newly merged external assistance programmes of the European Union. France, backed by Mediterranean Member States, had suggested to ensure a certain share of external assistance would be allocated to the EU's Mediterranean neighbours.