Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/0262(COD)
Increased efficiency of the External Action Guarantee
Amending Regulation (EU) 2021/947 as regards increased efficiency of the External Action Guarantee
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · First reading
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Published as law
Completed: published in the Official Journal on 4 May 2026 and now EU law.
- Referred to committee(done) 19 June 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 5 November 2025
- Tabled for plenary(done) 10 November 2025
- Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 25 February 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 10 March 2026
- Published as law(done) 4 May 2026
Decided in plenary
10 March 2026 · decision 3
Foreign affairs, New EU law
Increased efficiency of the External Action Guarantee
Passed 441 for · 105 against · 81 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The Guarantee backs loans for development and external action; the changes aim to improve how it is used.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The adopted text adds new recitals on foreign policy alignment, visibility, evaluation, and additionality, and removes references to the Draghi report and specific regions. It also introduces provisions on excluding Chinese entities, enhancing reporting, and increasing the EFSD+ guarantee cover. The changes are substantive, altering the policy context and requirements for the External Action Guarantee.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Development
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- David Mcallister (EPP), Charles Goerens (Renew)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Sandra Gómez López (S&D), Dan Barna (Renew), Tineke Strik (Greens), Niels Geuking (EPP), Marit Maij (S&D), György Hölvényi (Patriots), Kristoffer Storm (ECR), Erik Marquardt (Greens), Mimmo Lucano (The Left), Marc Jongen (ESN)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 10 Mar 2026
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2021/947 to increase the efficiency of the External Action Guarantee. It sets out rules for the guarantee's use, including risk management and reporting.
Tabled for plenary· 10 Nov 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2021/947 to increase the efficiency of the External Action Guarantee. It sets out conditions for using surpluses and reducing the EIB's guarantee cover, while strengthening transparency, accountability, and alignment with EU objectives.
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 2 steps
4 May 2026
Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
29 April 2026
Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council
The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.
Plenary stage 2 steps
10 March 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 10 Mar 2026 Adopted text TA10-0059/2026Report A10-0221/2025
3 March – 6 March 2026
21 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Negotiations with the Council 3 steps
25 February 2026
Committee approved the deal reached with the Council
The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.
26 January 2026
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
24 November 2025
Plenary endorsed the mandate to negotiate with the Council
Parliament’s negotiators can now seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).
Plenary stage 1 step
10 November 2025
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 4 steps
5 November 2025
Committee vote: report adopted
DEVE (Development) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
3 October 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of the committee proposed changes to the draft.
5 September 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text. Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
19 June 2025
Referred to the DEVE (Development) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/0262(COD)