DECISION (EU) 2020/265 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 27 November 2019

on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the ongoing challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (1), and in particular point 12 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas,

(1) The Flexibility Instrument is intended to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more other headings.

(2) The ceiling on the annual amount available for the Flexibility Instrument is EUR 600 000 000 (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 11 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (2) increased, where applicable, by lapsed amounts made available in accordance with the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of that Article.

(3) In order to address the ongoing challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats, it is necessary to mobilise significant additional amounts to finance such measures as a matter of urgency.

(4) Having examined all possibilities for reallocating appropriations under the expenditure ceiling of heading 3 (Security and citizenship), it is necessary to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to supplement the financing available in the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2020 beyond the ceiling of heading 3 by the amount of EUR 778 074 489 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security.

(5) On the basis of the expected payment profile, the payment appropriations corresponding to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument should be distributed over several financial years.

(6) In order to allow for the quick use of the funds, this Decision should apply from the beginning of the financial year 2020.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 1. For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2020, the Flexibility Instrument shall be mobilised to provide the amount of EUR 778 074 489 in commitment appropriations in heading 3 (Security and Citizenship). The amounts referred to in the first subparagraph shall be used to finance measures to address the ongoing challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats. 2. On the basis of the expected payment profile, the payment appropriations corresponding to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument shall be estimated as follows: (a) EUR 407 402 108 in 2020; (b) EUR 312 205 134 in 2021; (c) EUR 42 336 587 in 2022; (d) EUR 16 130 660 in 2023. The specific amounts of payment appropriations for each financial year shall be authorised in accordance with the annual budgetary procedure.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2020. Done at Strasbourg, 27 November 2019. For the European Parliament The President D. M. SASSOLI For the Council The President T. TUPPURAINEN

(1) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.

(2) Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).