On the basis of Article 14 TEU, the European Commission will conduct a strategic dialogue with the European Parliament prior to the programming of the Regulation (EU) No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020 and after initial consultation of its relevant beneficiaries, where appropriate. The European Commission will present to the European Parliament the relevant available documents on programming with indicative allocations foreseen per country/region, and, within a country/region, priorities, possible results and indicative allocations foreseen per priority for geographic programmes, as well as the choice of assistance modalities. The European Commission will present to the European Parliament the relevant available documents on programming with thematic priorities, possible results, choice of assistance modalities, and financial allocations for such priorities foreseen in thematic programmes. The European Commission will take into account the position expressed by the European Parliament on the matter.

The European Commission will conduct a strategic dialogue with the European Parliament in preparing the mid-term review and before any substantial revision of the programming documents during the period of validity of this Regulation.

The European Commission, if invited by the European Parliament, will explain where the European Parliament's observations have been taken into consideration in the programming documents and any other follow-up given to the strategic dialogue.

With regard to the application of point (ii) of point (b) of Article 5(2) Regulation No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020 at the time of entry into force of that Regulation, the following partner countries are considered eligible for bilateral cooperation, as exceptional cases, including in view of the phasing out of development grant aid: Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and South Africa.

The European Commission will seek the views of the European Parliament before changing the application of point (ii) of point (b) of Article 5(2) of Regulation No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020.

The Regulation No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020 should enable the Union to contribute to fulfilling the joint Union commitment of providing continued support for human development to improve people's lives in line with the Millennium Development Goals. At least 20 % of allocated assistance under that Regulation will be allocated to basic social services, with a focus on health and education, and to secondary education, recognising that a degree of flexibility must be the norm, such as cases where exceptional assistance is involved. Data concerning the respect of this declaration will be included in the annual report referred to in Article 13 of the Regulation No 236/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 laying down common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union's instrument for financing external action.

The European Parliament notes that Regulation (EU) No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020, Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument, 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 and Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) do not contain any explicit reference to the possibility of suspending assistance in cases where a beneficiary country fails to observe the basic principles enunciated in the respective instrument and notably the principles of democracy, rule of law and the respect for human rights.

The European Parliament considers that any suspension of assistance under these instruments would modify the overall financial scheme agreed under the ordinary legislative procedure. As a co-legislator and co-branch of the budgetary authority, the European Parliament is therefore entitled to fully exercise its prerogatives in that regard, if such a decision is to be taken.