The Partnership Instrument is the main innovative instrument in the external action package. It supports measures that respond in an effective and flexible manner to objectives arising from the Union's bilateral, regional or multilateral relationships with third countries and shall address challenges of global concern and ensure an adequate follow-up to decision taken at a multilateral level.
Objectives
The Instruments overall objective is to advance and promote EU interest by supporting the external dimension of EU internal policies (e.g. competiveness, research and innovation, migration) and by addressing major global challenges (e.g. energy security, climate change and environment). The external projection of the "Europe 2020" Strategy represents a major strategic component of this Instrument.
The PI also addresses specific aspects of the EU's economic diplomacy with a view to improving access to third country markets by boosting trade, investment and business opportunities for European companies. It supports public diplomacy, people to people contacts, academic cooperation and outreach activities to promote the Union's values and interest.
With a different approach compared to established models of development co-operation to promote policy co-operation, the PI focusses in particular on countries for which the EU has a strategic interest in promoting links with. This includes countries which play an increasingly prominent role in global affairs, international economy and trade, multilateral fora and global governance and in addressing challenges of global concern or where the Union has other significant interest. The Instrument also underpins new relationships with countries which are graduating from bilateral development aid.
The PI allows the EU to develop and engage in an overarching political dialogue with key partner countries. Its global reach and flexibility are essential elements to enable the Union to respond to the fast changing nature of partner countries and to key policy global challenges.
2014-2020
Supported activities
The Partnership Instrument will give priority to supporting external EU policies like trade as well as the external dimension of EU policies on climate change, the environment, energy, transport, employment and social policy, as well as information and communication technologies.
Implementation
Multi-annual indicative programmes will be developed that will set out the Union’s strategic and/or mutual interests and priorities, the specific objectives and expected results.
To ensure its predictability, funding for higher education activities in third countries in the context of "Erasmus for All" programme will be made available, in line with EU external action objectives, through 2 multi annual allocations only covering the first 4 years and the remaining 3 years respectively. This funding will be reflected in the multiannual indicative programming of the Partnership Instrument, in line with the identified needs and priorities of the countries concerned.
The financial reference amount for implementation of this Regulation for the period from 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 954.765.000. Annual appropriations shall be decided by the budgetary authority as part of the annual budget procedure within the limits set in the Multiannual Financial Framework.
In order to promote the international dimension of higher education, an indicative amount of EUR 1 680 000 000 from the different external instruments (Development Cooperation Instrument, European Neighbourhood Instrument, Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, Partnership Instrument), will be allocated to actions of learning mobility to or from non EU countries and to cooperation and policy dialogue with authorities/institutions/organisations from these countries. The funding will be made available through two multiannual allocations only covering the first four years and the remaining three years respectively. This funding will be reflected in the multiannual indicative programming of these instruments, in line with the identified needs and priorities of the countries concerned. The allocations can be revised in case of major unforeseen circumstances or important political changes in line with the EU external priorities
Multi-annual indicative programmes may provide for an amount of funds, not exceeding 5 % of the total amount, that is not allocated to a priority area or partner country or group of countries. These funds shall be committed in accordance with Article 2 (2) and (2a) of the Common Implementing Regulation.
Actions within the scope of ‘Erasmus ’ will only be funded by the Partnership Instrument in so far as they are not eligible for funding under other external action instruments, and complement or reinforce other initiatives under this Regulation.
Eligibility
Legal basis: Regulation (EU) No 234/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a Partnership Instrument for cooperation with third countries
A financial envelope for the PI of €954 765 000 is foreseen for the period 2014-2020.
All third countries, regions and territories may be eligible for cooperation under this Regulation.
Note: The programme will primarily support cooperation measures with developed and developing countries which play an increasingly prominent role in the international economy and trade, in multilateral fora, in global governance and in addressing challenges of global concern and where the Union has significant interests.
All third countries.
Multi-annual indicative programmes will be developed that will set out the Union’s strategic and/or mutual interests and priorities, the specific objectives and expected results.
To ensure its predictability, funding for higher education activities in third countries in the context of "Erasmus for All" programme will be made available, in line with EU external action objectives, through 2 multi annual allocations only covering the first 4 years and the remaining 3 years respectively. This funding will be reflected in the multiannual indicative programming of the Partnership Instrument, in line with the identified needs and priorities of the countries concerned.
The financial reference amount for implementation of this Regulation for the period from 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 954.765.000. Annual appropriations shall be decided by the budgetary authority as part of the annual budget procedure within the limits set in the Multiannual Financial Framework.
In order to promote the international dimension of higher education, an indicative amount of EUR 1 680 000 000 from the different external instruments (Development Cooperation Instrument, European Neighbourhood Instrument, Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, Partnership Instrument), will be allocated to actions of learning mobility to or from non EU countries and to cooperation and policy dialogue with authorities/institutions/organisations from these countries. The funding will be made available through two multiannual allocations only covering the first four years and the remaining three years respectively. This funding will be reflected in the multiannual indicative programming of these instruments, in line with the identified needs and priorities of the countries concerned. The allocations can be revised in case of major unforeseen circumstances or important political changes in line with the EU external priorities
Multi-annual indicative programmes may provide for an amount of funds, not exceeding 5 % of the total amount, that is not allocated to a priority area or partner country or group of countries. These funds shall be committed in accordance with Article 2 (2) and (2a) of the Common Implementing Regulation.
Actions within the scope of ‘Erasmus ’ will only be funded by the Partnership Instrument in so far as they are not eligible for funding under other external action instruments, and complement or reinforce other initiatives under this Regulation.