The European Parliament approved a report which stresses that emergency financial assistance from the EU for cash-strapped neighbours must depend on respect for human rights and democracy. In addition to this, MEPs also slam the Commission's plans to cut Parliament out of the decision-making process.

A report approved by MEPs in the last plenary session requests that the new macro-financial assistance regulation will be amended to ensure that countries close to the EU, in practice chiefly in the Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood, will be obliged to meet stricter conditions in order to get cash injections They must commit to using the money they receive for measures such as fighting forced child labour or poverty or corruption. The Framework Regulation for macro-financial assistance to third countries was adopted by the Commission in July 2011.

MEPs are also against the Commission's plans to cut Parliament out of the decision-making process. They stress that they must continue to have a say in each individual decision on micro-financial assistance, in order to retain democratic oversight, as well as ensuring that the countries get their money promptly and efficiently.

Since 1990, the EU has been helping out countries with serious, short-term financial difficulties. 23 countries have benefited so far from a total of €7.2 billion. Parliament is concerned that the EU has given money to neighbouring countries in the past without carrying out adequate checks. It wants the European External Action Service (EEAS) to assess the democracy and human rights record of each recipient country, taking into account reports adopted by Parliament.