The Committee of the Regions is drafting an opinion on the joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council on the "Global Europe: A New Approach to financing EU external action (COM(2011) 865 final) accompanied by the following legislative proposals:

• Communication – Preparation of the multiannual financial framework regarding the financing of EU cooperation for African, Caribbean and Pacific States and Overseas Countries and Territories for the 2014-2020 period (11th European Development Fund) COM(2011) 837 final ;
• Regulation - The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) COM(2011) 838 final ;
• Regulation – Establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument COM(2011) 839 final ;
• Regulation – Establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation COM(2011) 840 final ;
• Regulation – Establishing an Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation COM(2011) 841 final ;
• Regulation – Establishing common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union's instruments for external action COM(2011) 842 final ;
• Regulation – Establishing a Partnership Instrument for cooperation with third countries COM(2011) 843 final ;
• Regulation – Establishing a financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide COM(2011)844 final.

Events taking place in the European Union's neighbourhood and beyond have direct and immediate consequences on the interests and responsibilities of the EU citizens and their local and regional levels of governance. Indeed in this context of increasing interdependence and global challenges such as climate change, migration, trade imbalances and fight against international crime, the EU has to equip itself to be able to pursue more coherent and active policies in its bilateral and multilateral relations. Within the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy and the new architecture of the Lisbon Treaty, the Communication "Global Europe: A New Approach to financing EU external action" underlines the need for the EU to play a major role in this globalising world with limited but well targetted resources. The legislative proposals included in the package set out the individual instruments such as IPA, ENI, DCI and EIDHR which are proposed for the next financial planning period to maximise the impact and effectiveness of EU external action.

Despite the economic crisis and its budgetary consequence, the new Multi-annual Financial Framework sets ambitious objectives for the EU's external action. The Commission is proposing an increase of the funds for "Global Europe" i.e the EU's relations and cooperation with third countries, which among others include policy areas of enlargement, neighbourhood policy, strategic partners and development policy. According to the Lisbon Treaty, the European External Action Service (EEAS), placed under the authority of the High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, now has the task of coordinating and ensuring the consistency of the Union's external action.

Following these guiding lines, the 'new approach' consists in revising external action by adapting the EU's methods of designing, programming and delivering assistance to the new political, economic and institutional realities and streamlining the funding instruments that are available. Indeed European Commission proposes nine geographic and thematic financial instruments for an amount of 70 billion which is equivalent to nearly 7% of the total EU budget.

The Rapporteur on the opinion, Ms Lotta HÅKANSSON HARJU (SV/PES), Member of the CIVEX Commission of the CoR and Member of the Järfälla Municipal Council and her expert Ms Karin BERLIN, would be happy to meet for a consultation and an exchange of views on her opinion with representatives of local and regional associations and other stakeholders.

The Rapporteur would be very keen to hear your views during the meeting. After a short introduction, stakeholders are invited to react to the questions raised by the rapporteur in her working document.

In addition, if you have any additional position papers relevant to the subject, you are most welcome to send them to us by email.

There will be simultaneous interpretation allowing you to speak in Swedish, French and English, while listening in English and Swedish. Please note that the mother tongue of the rapporteur is Swedish

For more information, please contact our team:

• For the CIVEX Commission: Mr. Victor Tilea, Tel: +32 2 282 2395
• For Relations with stakeholders: Mr. Peter Verlinden, Tel: +32 2 282 2170

Please note that the CoR will not provide paper copies of the documents for the meeting, in an effort to reduce paper waste.