Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument in favour of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq according to point 24 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Commission proposes to continue the support to the stabilisation and reconstruction process in Iraq initiated in 2003 and 2004 as one of its key external responsibility priorities in 2005. For that purpose, an amount of EUR 200 is set aside in the 2005 budget, of which 190 millions to be implemented under the article 19 08 07 "Aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq" and EUR 10 million under the article 19 04 03 "Development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law - Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". These amounts will be financed by redeployment and mobilisation of the margin existing under the ceiling of Heading 4 "External actions" of the financial perspective, and by mobilising the flexibility instrument for an amount of EUR 115 million.

It is therefore requested that the European Parliament and the Council adopt this proposal for a decision.

Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument in favour of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq according to point 24 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure [1], and in particular point 24 thereof,

[1] OJ C 172 of 18.06.1999, p. 1.

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission [2],

[2] OJ C , , p. .

Whereas:

The Commission proposes to continue the support to the stabilisation and reconstruction process in Iraq initiated in 2003 and 2004 as one of its key external responsibility priorities in 2005. For that purpose, an amount of EUR 200 is set aside in the 2005 budget, of which 190 millions to be implemented under the article 19 08 07 "Aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq" and EUR 10 million under the article 19 04 03 "Development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law - Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". These amounts will be financed by redeployment and mobilisation of the margin existing under the ceiling of Heading 4 "External actions" of the financial perspective, and by mobilising the flexibility instrument for an amount of EUR 115 million.

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2005 (hereinafter "the 2005 budget"), the flexibility instrument shall be used to provide the sum of EUR 115 000 000 in commitment appropriations.

This amount shall be used for the financing of the aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq, covered by Heading 4 "External actions" of the financial perspective, under the article 19 08 07 of the 2005 budget.

Article 2

This decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union at the same time as the 2005 budget.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President