Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe: EU ambassadors greenlight final compromise text with a view to an agreement with the EP
EU member states’ ambassadors today endorsed the final compromise text of the regulation setting up the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI), in the context of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF).
With an overall allocation of €79.5 billion at current prices, the new instrument will cover EU cooperation with all third countries, thereby allowing the EU to effectively uphold and promote its values and interests worldwide while supporting global multilateral efforts.
This new key financing instrument is the tangible proof that the EU wants to be a global player. The COVID-19 pandemic redoubles our responsibility. With NDICI we will be able to make a difference in supporting partner countries and promoting sustainable development worldwide.
The text endorsed today reflects the provisional agreement reached on 15 December by the Council Presidency and European Parliament’s representatives.
NDICI will be organised around three key pillars:
Geographical
The geographical component will promote partnerships through cooperation with partner countries in the following regions: the European Neighbourhood, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific and the Americas and the Caribbean.
Geographic cooperation will focus on good governance, inclusive growth, climate and environment objectives, poverty eradication, the fight against inequalities, resilience, conflict prevention and human development among other cross-cutting issues. In addition, European Neighbourhood countries will benefit from enhanced political cooperation and support for the purposes of improving regional cooperation and promoting integration into the EU’s internal market.
The financial envelope will amount to €60 388 million (€53 805 million), of which at least €19 323 million (€17 217 million) will be earmarked for the Neighbourhood, while maintaining an adequate geographical balance, and at least €29 181 million (€26 000 million) will be earmarked for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Thematic
The thematic programmes – for which €6 358 million (€5 665 million) are foreseen – will fund actions linked to the Sustainable Development Goals at global level. Thematic programmes will therefore focus on human rights and democracy, civil society, stability and peace, as well as on global challenges such as health, education and training, women and children, work, social protection, culture, migration and climate change.
Rapid Response
The rapid response component amounting to €3 182 million (€2 835 million) will be dedicated to financing quick response capacity for crisis management, conflict prevention and peace building. Actions financed under this component aim at strengthening resilience of crisis affected countries, linking humanitarian and development actions and addressing foreign policy needs and priorities.
At the same time, as NDICI was designed to be a more flexible instrument able to address new emerging priorities and challenges in a fast-changing world, €9 534 million (€8 495 million) will be earmarked for unexpected events, such as crisis and post-crisis situations or migratory pressure.
Next Steps
Following today’s endorsement by Coreper, NDICI’s final compromise text will need to undergo legal linguistic revision before its final adoption in June 2021.
The regulation will retroactively apply from 1 January 2021.
