Instrument for Stability
Encyclopedia
The Instrument for Stability (IfS, more commonly referred to as the Stability Instrument) is a financial and political instrument at the disposal of the European Union. It is prepared at strategic level by the EEAS and implemented by the Commission. The objective is three-fold: 1/ respond to urgent needs due to political instability or a major disaster; 2/ build the conditions for long term stability in particular by addressing some major risks and threats that prevent political security and economic development, such as terrorism, organized crime, illicit trafficking, chemical-biological-nuclear risks but also new challenges such as pandemics, cybercrime, climate change or the protection of critical infrastructure; 3/ participate to the crisis management cycle by supporting CSDP operations and by contributing to restore stability after the crisis or the conflict.
"Regulation Establishing an Instrument for Stability", EC Regulation No 1717/2006, November 15 2006.
The Instrument for Stability was proposed by the Commission in September 2004 and created by the Council and Parliament on 15 November 2006 through Regulation No 1717/2006. It replaces the Rapid Reaction Mechanism
(RRM), which was considered unwieldy as it could only finance projects of up to six months.
can pursue their long term development
goals. The main added value of the IfS is its ability to provide support to the political strategy of the European Union in a third country.
The IfS may be deployed for crisis response and crisis preparedness (such a limited window of opportunity
to prevent or resolve conflict, situations threatening to escalate into armed conflict or severe destabilisation, or the urgent need to secure the conditions for the delivery of aid by the European Union
), including in the case of major natural disaster. Besides tackling immediate crises or catastrophes in third countries, the IfS also addresses trans-regional risks and threats that are either natural or criminal in nature and may jeopardize the health, environnment, economic development and safety conditions of people in the region. This trans-regional approach provided by the Instrument for Stability complements national measures provided by EU geographical instruments and contributes to strengthen the rule of law, good governance, safety and security at regional level. Regional centers of excellence (so called CBRN Centers of Excellence) are being established in five key regions of the world (the Middle East, South East Asia, Caucasus, Central Asia and Africa)to operate this transregional approach. These regional centers (CoEs) will be a platform of coordination and cooperation between donors and recipients in the field of safety and security.
The IfS can only finance operations where other financial instruments cannot respond within the timeframe necessary. In specific, the IfS cannot finance humanitarian assistance
(which is the responsibility of ECHO
) or finance projects that are longer than 18 months (which the Commission should be able to finance through the regular financial instruments). In addition, specialised short-term financing instruments already exist for specific crises. These include regulations on food aid, human rights
and democratisation, mine action
and rehabilitation
.
may adopt measures which apply immediately. The Commission is assisted by a committee
(composed of the representatives of the Member States
and chaired by the representative of the Commission, who does not vote in the committee), which is kept informed of all IfS measures taken by the Commission. If the Commission's actions are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, the Council
will immediately be informed, which may then overrule the Commission within 30 days, voting by qualified majority. The European Parliament
, meanwhile, is informed by the Commission of committee proceedings on a regular basis.
"Regulation Establishing an Instrument for Stability", EC Regulation No 1717/2006, November 15 2006.
The Instrument for Stability was proposed by the Commission in September 2004 and created by the Council and Parliament on 15 November 2006 through Regulation No 1717/2006. It replaces the Rapid Reaction Mechanism
European Union rapid reaction mechanism
The EU rapid reaction mechanism is a streamlining of existing European Union law and Framework Law regarding "the alleviation of crises, through human rights work, election monitoring, institution building, media support, border management, humanitarian missions, police training and the provision...
(RRM), which was considered unwieldy as it could only finance projects of up to six months.
Purpose
The purpose of the Instrument for Stability is to support measures aimed at safeguarding or re-establishing the conditions under which the partner countries of the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
can pursue their long term development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
goals. The main added value of the IfS is its ability to provide support to the political strategy of the European Union in a third country.
The IfS may be deployed for crisis response and crisis preparedness (such a limited window of opportunity
Window of opportunity
Window of opportunity may refer to:* Launch window, a phrase used in space exploration* Early learning windows as used in the Abecedarian Early Intervention Project* Term used during the Gulf War when taking out prominent leaders...
to prevent or resolve conflict, situations threatening to escalate into armed conflict or severe destabilisation, or the urgent need to secure the conditions for the delivery of aid by the European Union
ECHO (European Commission)
The Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission , formerly known as the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office, is the European Commission's department for overseas humanitarian aid...
), including in the case of major natural disaster. Besides tackling immediate crises or catastrophes in third countries, the IfS also addresses trans-regional risks and threats that are either natural or criminal in nature and may jeopardize the health, environnment, economic development and safety conditions of people in the region. This trans-regional approach provided by the Instrument for Stability complements national measures provided by EU geographical instruments and contributes to strengthen the rule of law, good governance, safety and security at regional level. Regional centers of excellence (so called CBRN Centers of Excellence) are being established in five key regions of the world (the Middle East, South East Asia, Caucasus, Central Asia and Africa)to operate this transregional approach. These regional centers (CoEs) will be a platform of coordination and cooperation between donors and recipients in the field of safety and security.
The IfS can only finance operations where other financial instruments cannot respond within the timeframe necessary. In specific, the IfS cannot finance humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
(which is the responsibility of ECHO
ECHO (European Commission)
The Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission , formerly known as the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office, is the European Commission's department for overseas humanitarian aid...
) or finance projects that are longer than 18 months (which the Commission should be able to finance through the regular financial instruments). In addition, specialised short-term financing instruments already exist for specific crises. These include regulations on food aid, human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and democratisation, mine action
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
and rehabilitation
Land rehabilitation
Land rehabilitation is the process of returning the land in a given area to some degree of its former state, after some process has resulted in its damage...
.
Deployment
For the deployment of the IfS, a simplified decision-making process is used. The CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
may adopt measures which apply immediately. The Commission is assisted by a committee
Comitology
Comitology in the European Union refers to the committee system which oversees the delegated acts implemented by the European Commission.-Overview:...
(composed of the representatives of the Member States
European Council
The European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy...
and chaired by the representative of the Commission, who does not vote in the committee), which is kept informed of all IfS measures taken by the Commission. If the Commission's actions are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, the Council
European Council
The European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy...
will immediately be informed, which may then overrule the Commission within 30 days, voting by qualified majority. The European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, meanwhile, is informed by the Commission of committee proceedings on a regular basis.