COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS OPINION ON FINANCING OF THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY IN THE NEW MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (2021–2027) ( 11 April 2018)

The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

closely following the discussions in the institutions of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as the EU) and the EU Member States, on the New Multiannual Financial Framework for the period of 2021–2027, and in particular on the financing instruments for EU external action;

recalling the final statement of the Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy held in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 15–17 February 2018, providing that the EU needs to take more responsibility on the international scene in order to successfully address the global challenges and threats it faces and insisting that the EU needs to be an effective global player, speak with one voice and focus its resources on strategic priorities,

is of the view that, in the New Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, the EU external action financing instruments need to effectively contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the EU Global strategy: to defend EU values and main interests;  ensure security and well-being of the people, and strengthen the EU as an active international policy player;

stresses that the European Neighbourhood Policy is a strategically important dimension of the EU’s external relations since democratic and well-governed neighbours that recognise and actively foster European values constitute one of the essential conditions for the security and stability of the EU; the reinforced political attention to and adequate financial support for the European Neighbourhood Policy and in particular the Eastern Partnership and the EU’s Association Agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova as well as the implementation of the related reforms continue to remain Lithuania’s priority;

notes that the European Neighbourhood Instrument, which serves as the basis for allocating the support to the initiatives pertaining to the consolidation of human rights and the rule of law, implementation of reforms, promotion of economic growth and social well-being, development of human resources, strengthening of regional integration, and development of civil society, is an important tool for investing in the long-term prosperity and stability of the EU’s neighbourhood, which is of strategic importance for the EU’s own interest;

calls on the national parliaments of the EU Member States to actively engage in the debate on the New Multiannual Financial Framework and the financing of an external action while highlighting the need to maintain a separate and effective European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument in the future architecture of the EU’s instruments for financing external actions, in accordance with the ‘more for more’ principle of the support provided to the EU’s neighbouring eastern and southern countries engaged in the implementation of ambitious reforms of the consolidation of democratic principles and strengthening of civil society, and thus to pursue the common goal – to consolidate the EU as an influential and solid international policy player, and to create secure neighbourhood;

refers this opinion to the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, and the national parliaments and governments of the Member States.

Juozas Bernatonis

Chair of the Committee