In accordance with Regulation (EC) N°1717/2006 establishing an Instrument for Stability (the IfS Regulation), the Commission presents the fourth Annual Report, which gives an overview of how, in 2010, the Instrument for Stability, IfS, has been directed to make an impact on crises and to respond to threats throughout the world. IfS actions are undertaken by a wide range of implementing bodies, including the UN and other international and regional bodies, EU Member State agencies, NGOs and other civil society actors.
2007-2009: by the end of 2009, the IfS was well established in responding to conflict and crisis on a global level, taking actions to address security threats on a national and regional level, and building capacity to respond to crises and to prevent conflict with timely and efficient interventions. A significant number of IfS measures in line with Article 3 (response to crisis) were crafted to complement humanitarian assistance, with a view to enhancing the link between relief, rehabilitation and development, or to facilitate the achievement of the political objectives of CSDP missions. EUR 350 million had been mobilised for 100 individual actions in 48 countries worldwide. There was a wide geographical spread: some 25% targeted Africa; 20% for Asia; 18% for the Middle East; 15% in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe; 11% in Latin America; and 11% for Central Asia and Southern Caucasus.
With regard to Article 4 (threats to law and order), the Commission adopted the new Multi-Annual Indicative Programme 2009-2011 for up to EUR 225 million for the three priority areas: (i) the support to international efforts to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, by control of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials and agents, control of dual-use goods, and the redirection of weapons scientists’ knowledge towards peaceful activities; (ii) the fight against trafficking, terrorism and organised crime; and (iii) measures aimed at strengthening international and regional capacity to analyse, prevent and respond to threats to stability and human development.
2010: the total available budget for the IfS in 2010 was EUR 213,559,000, a 15% increase over 2009. Of this, EUR 21m was allocated for trans-regional threats (IfS Article 4.1), EUR 41m for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear risk mitigation (IfS Article 4.2), and EUR 20m for Pre- and Post- Crisis capacity building (IfS Article 4.3). The balance of EUR 131,559,000 responded to crisis or emerging crisis (IfS Article 3). All of these funds were committed.
The Working Group on Conflict, Security and Development of the Foreign Affairs committee of the European Parliament was established in the framework of democratic scrutiny of the IfS and met four times.
Response to crisis (Article 3): in order to illustrate the activities in 2010, the paper gives short descriptions of some programmes demonstrating the breadth of scope, and the very different types of issue to which the IfS is called to respond, with particular reference to earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and the political crisis in Pakistan on the north-west region bordering Afghanistan, followed by the severe flooding which took place in that country. In addition, the paper discusses actions taken in Sudan, the Philippines, Georgia and the Somali piracy crisis. All programmes in 2010 are Exceptional Assistance Measures. No Interim Response Measures were put in place. The geographic distribution in 2010 is global, covering all continents other than Australia and Antartica: EUR 19.3 million in Africa; EUR 17.8 million in the Middle East; EUR 550 000 in Eastern Europe and Western Balkans; EUR 39 million in South and Western Asia; EUR 8.7 million in South-east Asia; EUR 17.1 million in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus; and, lastly, EUR 29.1 million in Latin America.
EU Delegations are responsible for 78% of commitments and 85% of payments under the IfS in 2010.
Threats to law and order (Article 4): in 2010, EUR 21.5 million were committed to actions in this area, with total of about EUR 7 million in payments. In 2010 more than 100 experts were recruited through the ESF from specialist public or semi-public organisations in the EU Member States, joining forces to make their specific knowledge and expertise available, and providing technical inputs to the identification and detailed planning of IfS actions, including the 2011 Annual Action
Programme.
Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risk mitigation (CBRN IFS Article 4.2): historically, activities in most fields were concentrated on the former Soviet Union. In 2010, efforts have been made to enlarge the geographical coverage of the programme. Coverage has been extended to the Mediterranean Basin, Middle East, South East Asia, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Africa. The total number of countries newly involved, in addition to the former Soviet Union, is about 40.
Pre- and post crisis capacity building (IFS Article 4.3): the report details the activities which have taken place under the Annual Action Programme of IfS Peace-building Partnership activities, which started in April 2010. In addition, specific actions with the African Union and the League of Arab States have been put in place to enhance their early warning capacity. The ‘Peace-building Partnership’ has focused on enhancing dialogue with civil society organisations on peace-building issues. An illustration of how work carried out in 2010 has enhanced policy dialogue among the international community is the notable progress made under the joint EU/UN initiative on linkages between natural resources and conflicts. Knowledge materials were developed on subjects such as land, extractive industries and environmental scarcity and conflict.
The Commission concludes that IfS measures implemented in 2010, complementing EU regional and thematic development instruments, humanitarian assistance and CSDP missions, have supported the EU to preserve peace, prevent conflict and strengthen international security. In its fourth year, and with a budget which has increased by 59%, from EUR 139 123 000 in 2007, to EUR 213 559 000 in 2010, the overall IfS programme has now reached a state of maturity solid enough to deal with upcoming challenges, such as those that emerged in North Africa and the Arab States of the Middle East in early 2011. An external evaluation of the Instrument for Stability was launched at the end of 2010 “to ascertain the results to date of the IfS crisis response and preparedness components and help enhance IfS approaches towards future crisis response measures and strategies for future preparedness programming. The evaluation has concluded that IfS is a unique Instrument within the EU peace, security and development architecture. Articles 3 and 4(3) fill an important strategic, funding and capacity gap, and allow the EU to support a broad range of critical crisis preparedness and response initiatives. The design and management of the Instrument has led to a significant number of achievements that should be recognised and are important contributions to peace and stability globally.