The European Parliament adopted by 637 votes to 15, with 19 abstentions, a resolution prepared by its development committee on the draft Commission decision establishing the 2009 Annual Action Programme for Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development (Part II: Targeted Projects).

To recall, on 15 April 2009, the Development Cooperation Instrument ( DCI ) management committee voted by written procedure in favour of the draft 2009 Annual Action Programme which aims to increase the level of awareness of the European citizen regarding development issues and mobilise active public support in the Community and acceding countries for poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies in partner countries. Parliament states that concerns were raised by 11 Member States about the Commission's intention to stop the direct financing ('targeted projects' procedure) of the TRIALOG and DEEEP projects, which have been ongoing since 1998 and 2003 respectively, and instead oblige them to participate in a 'call for proposals'.

Parliament recalls that these projects concern in particular the new Member States and it is worried that the possible gap in financing may have negative repercussions on NGOs and may cause the loss of qualified staff as well as know-how and already established networks.

It is for this reason that the European Parliament opposes the adoption of the draft Commission decision establishing the 2009 Annual Action Programme for Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development (Part II: Targeted Projects) in its current form.

Parliament requests the Commission to clarify the criteria for determining the existence of a 'de jure or de facto monopoly' situation, given that the 11 Member States mention that, from the perspective of the 'new' Member States, a 'de facto monopoly' situation still exists with respect to the Europe-wide activities carried out by Trialog and DEEEP. Parliament insists on open, transparent and horizontal application of the criteria for awarding direct grants for targeted projects in order to ensure a level playing field for all.

Parliament insists that uninterrupted funding be assured, through a strategic, Europe-wide programme, for the valuable activities of promoting exchanges of best practice, and building networks and partnerships at EU level and between national platforms and the EU, and for improving dialogue and building capacity in the work with 'new' Member States and accession states.

Parliament invites the Commission to engage in a dialogue with Parliament in the context of its forthcoming review of the system of calls for proposals for the Thematic Programmes. It calls for existing arrangements on directly funded actions to be left unchanged for a 12-month period , and for any future changes to reflect the outcome of the review process and to ensure long-term, predictable and sustainable development cooperation activities.

Lastly, the European Parliament calls on the Commission to adapt its draft decision establishing the 2009 Annual Action Programme for Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development (Part II: Targeted Projects) (CMTD(2009)0387 – D004766/01) in order to include EU-wide projects for raising awareness of development issues in the enlarged EU and for development education exchange in the EU.