on the Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for the provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Council Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 allows for the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more headings of the multiannual financial framework.

In accordance with Article 11 of Council Regulation No 1311/2013 and point 12 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters on and sound financial management, after having examined all possibilities for re-allocating appropriations and exhausted any unallocated margin under the expenditure heading Security and Citizenship (heading 3), the Commission proposes to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument. This mobilisation concerns an amount of EUR 123 966 698 beyond the ceiling of heading 3, and is intended to complement the financing in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016 of a set of temporary measures in the area of asylum to help relieve the immediate and exceptional pressure on the asylum and migration systems of Italy and Greece, whose total cost budgeted in 2016 is estimated at EUR 150 000 000.

The payment appropriations corresponding to the proposed mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument in 2016, are expected to be used in full in 2017 and will be budgeted in the draft budget for the year 2017.

The Commission recalls that the publication of the Decision in the Official Journal of the European Union shall not intervene later than the publication of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016.

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for the provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 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 on and sound financial management, and in particular point 12 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas,

(1)Article 11 of Council Regulation 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the year 2014-2020 has established a Flexibility Instrument of up to EUR 471 million (2011 prices) per year,

(2)After having examined all possibilities for re-allocating appropriations under the expenditure ceiling Security and Citizenship (heading 3) and exhausted the unallocated margin, the Commission proposes to mobilise EUR 123 966 698 through the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, beyond the expenditure ceiling of heading 3, of a set of temporary measures in the area of asylum to help relieve the immediate and exceptional pressure on asylum and migration systems of Italy and Greece. The total cost of those measures for the year 2016 is estimated at EUR 150 000 000,

(3)The payment appropriations corresponding to the proposed mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument in 2016, are expected to be used in full in 2017 and will be budgeted in the draft budget for the year 2017.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, the Flexibility Instrument shall be used to increase by EUR 123 966 698 commitment appropriations above the expenditure ceiling of the heading Security and Citizenship (heading 3).

That amount shall be used to complement the financing of a set of temporary measures in the area of asylum to help relieve the immediate and exceptional pressure on asylum and migration systems of Italy and Greece.