The Commission presents the 2012 Annual Report on the implementation of the Instrument for Stability (IfS). It was submitted in compliance with the reporting requirement set out in Regulation (EC) N°1717/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council establishing an Instrument for Stability.
This report is complemented by two Commission Staff Working Documents which provide comprehensive and detailed global implementation updates on: (i) urgent IfS crisis response measures that were launched and/or ongoing in 2012; and (ii) longer-term IfS programmes.
Implementing actors: the IfS actions are undertaken by a wide range of implementing bodies, including agencies of the United Nations, other international and regional bodies, EU Member State bodies, NGOs and other civil society organisations.
IfS from 2007-2012: after six years in existence, the IfS is firmly established as an EU instrument that provides a necessary adjoint in the EU comprehensive approach to addressing the full cycle of conflict and crisis prevention, response and recovery around the world, addressing security threats at national and regional levels and building capacities to prevent conflict and respond to crises.
Over the period 2007 - 2012, the short-term crisis response component of the IfS has made available EUR 872 million for some 243 actions responding to crises spanning some 70 countries or regions worldwide.
IfS in 2012: of the EUR 286.1 million budget available and fully committed for the IfS in 2012 the breakdown of allocations was:
IfS measures implemented in 2012, complementing other EU actions under geographic and thematic development instruments, humanitarian assistance and CSDP missions, have contributed significantly to EU efforts to help prevent conflict, preserve peace, respond to crises and strengthen international security. In this respect, the wide range of interventions implemented under the Instrument for Stability enabled significant and visible EU responses with respect to many crisis situations around the globe.
During 2012, the EU addressed several major crises, including the Arab Spring upheavals across North Africa and the Middle East which, in turn, also directly impacted on stability in the Sahel region. Such challenges in 2012 included the evolving situation of the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa region which, two years down the line, continues to not only shape the future of the entire region but also has repercussions far beyond the countries concerned, as well as on volatile situations in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The EU also responded to crises in other parts of the world, all of which required effective and timely interventions in situations of fragility and/or post-crisis, including in Syria and Libya.
The Commission report presents a precise list of activities carried out in various locations around the world.
Conclusion: the IfS will continue to be a key EU instrument in providing uniquely swift and targeted response to these countries and regions in their efforts to overcome obstacles they are facing in consolidating peace and stability.
Given the continuing political instability and increasing number of natural disasters in many parts of the world, it is imperative to continue working towards the more efficient and effective deployment of the available EU instruments.
In this context, the EU needs to ensure IfS actions are deployed as part of the full cycle of crisis prevention, crisis response and peace building measures.
In turn, the strategic approach taken in the programming of long-term IfS actions has begun to yield results in the form of stronger links with key actors in various regions and more robust platforms from which to launch crisis response actions. It is this dynamic of effective conflict prevention that can reduce the future need for crisis response and intervention.