P8_TA(2017)0455

Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the on-going challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats

European Parliament resolution of 30 November 2017 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the on-going challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats (COM(2017)0271 — C8-0163/2017 — 2017/2077(BUD))

(2018/C 356/37)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2017)0271 — C8-0163/2017),

— having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (1) (MFF Regulation), and in particular Article 11 thereof,

— 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 (2), and in particular point 12 thereof,

— having regard to the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018, which the Commission adopted on 29 June 2017 (COM(2017)0400), as amended by Letter of amendment No 1/2018 (COM(2017)0615),

— having regard to the position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018, which the Council adopted on 4 September 2017 and forwarded to Parliament on 13 September 2017 (11815/2017 — C8-0313/2017),

— having regard to its position of 25 October 2017 on the 2018 draft general budget (3),

— having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 18 November 2017 (14587/17 — C8-0416/2017),

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0370/2017),

A. whereas after having examined all possibilities for re-allocating commitment appropriations under heading 3 (Security and Citizenship), it appears necessary to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument for commitment appropriations;

B. whereas the Commission had proposed to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to supplement the financing in the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2018 beyond the ceiling of heading 3 by the amount of EUR 817,1 million to finance measures in the field of migration, refugee inflows and security threats;

C. whereas the Conciliation Committee convened for the 2018 budget agreed on a further mobilisation of EUR 20,2 million as a result of reinforcements in heading 3;

1. Notes that the 2018 ceilings for heading 3 do not allow for an adequate financing of urgent measures in the field of migration, refugee inflows and security threats;

2. Agrees therefore with the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 837,2 million in commitment appropriations;

3. Agrees furthermore to the proposed allocation of the corresponding payment appropriations of EUR 464 million in 2018, EUR 212,7 million in 2019, EUR 126,4 million in 2020 and EUR 34,2 million in 2021;

4. Reiterates that the mobilisation of this instrument, as provided for in Article 11 of the MFF Regulation, shows, once more, the crucial need for the Union budget to be more flexible;

5. Reiterates its long-standing view that the payments stemming from commitments previously mobilised through the Flexibility Instrument can only be counted over and above the MFF ceilings;

6. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

7. Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union ;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.

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

(3) Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0408