EU foreign policy no toothless tiger anymore

EU budget support for third countries coupled to political demands: respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law

"The EU's foreign policy is no toothless tiger anymore. EU foreign policy spending, and direct budgetary support in particular, will be coupled to our political priorities," the Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok MEP, said today, following the adoption of the EU's foreign policy funds for 2014-2020. MEPs today gave the green light to rules governing six funds with a total value of over 51 billion Euros (2013 prices).

The money will be spent on foreign policy programmes over the next seven years to promote democracy in third countries or to finance European assistance to neighbouring countries like Ukraine, provided they commit to reforms. As part of the package, Parliament endorsed a report by Elmar Brok laying down the rules on how the money can be spent.

"The European Parliament has made sure that countries outside Europe can only receive direct budgetary support if they sign up to democratic values, human rights and respect for the rule of law. This gives European foreign policy a big lever. The EU can now use its economic power and financial influence to push for universal human values," Brok said.

MEPs also demanded that EU spending be more visible, and required the EU Commission to present a review of EU foreign policy spending until the end of 2017.

"We made sure that EU foreign policy spending is visible and transparent, and we have called for greater cooperation between both the EU and Member States as well as between the European External Action Service and the EU Commission, which administers parts of the money," Brok added.