EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 45/97

Draft amendment of the IIA of 17 May 2006

P6_TA(2008)0618

European Parliament resolution of 18 December 2008 on a draft amendment of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (2008/2325(INI))

(2010/C 45 E/19)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (1) (IIA), and in particular Point 25 thereof,

— having regard to the outcome of the conciliation meeting of 21 November 2008 with the Council,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council (COM(2008)0834),

— having regard to its position of 4 December 2008 on a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries (2),

— having regard to Rule 45 and to Annex VI, Section IV, points (1) and (2), of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A6-0504/2008),

A. whereas the European Parliament firmly supports the initiative of the Commission to create a new facility for rapid response to soaring food prices in developing countries (the ‘Food Facility’), the idea of which had also been endorsed by the European Council of 19 and 20 June 2008,

B. whereas the European Parliament and the Council, at the conciliation meeting of 21 November 2008, agreed on the financing of the ‘Food Facility’ for a total amount of EUR 1 billion over three years,

C. whereas the initial proposal of the Commission envisaged financing the ‘Food Facility’ from the margin of heading 2 of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), but this approach was rejected both by the European Parliament and the Council,

D. whereas the European Parliament considered that the most appropriate solution would be the revision of the ceiling of heading 4 of the MFF, but the Council rejected this option,

E. whereas the two branches of the budgetary authority finally agreed to finance the ‘Food Facility’ through an optimal combination of the Emergency Aid Reserve, the Instrument of Flexibility and redeployment within heading 4 from the Instrument for Stability,

F. whereas this agreement provides for a contribution of the Emergency Aid Reserve to the financing of the ‘Food Facility’ amounting to EUR 340 million, of which EUR 22 million is from the appropriations still available in the 2008 budget, EUR 78 million from the appropriations budgeted for 2009 and EUR 240 million through a one-off increase in the amount of the Emergency Aid Reserve to be budgeted in 2008,

G. whereas this increase requires a modification of Point 25 of the IIA in order to increase the funds available in the Emergency Aid Reserve for 2008 to EUR 479 218 000 (in current prices),

H. whereas this modification requires the approval of both branches of the budgetary authority, which implies the unanimous agreement of all Member States in the Council,

1. Welcomes the amendment of Point 25 of the IIA as attached to its decision of 18 December 2008 (3), which increases the funds available in the Emergency Aid Reserve for 2008 to EUR 479 218 000 (in current prices);

2. Reiterates its concerns, however, about the fact that heading 4 has been under permanent pressure due to its limited available margin, which necessitates mobilisation of exceptional mechanisms in order to respond to urgent unforeseen situations; calls for a thorough evaluation of the necessity to increase the amounts available under this heading in order to allow for the smooth development of long-term programmable activities in this area and secure the Union's capacity to fully play its role as a global actor in the international sphere;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

(1) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.

(2) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2008)0576.

(3) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2008)0617.