EN Official Journal of the European Union C 224/222

P8_TA(2016)0473

Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the ongoing migration, refugee and security crisis

European Parliament resolution of 1 December 2016 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 migration, refugee and security crisis (COM(2016)0313 — C8-0246/2016 — 2016/2120(BUD))

(2018/C 224/52)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2016)0313 — C8-0246/2016),

— 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), and in particular Article 11 thereof,

— having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2015/623 of 21 April 2015 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (2),

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

— having regard to the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, which the Commission adopted on 18 July 2016 (COM(2016)0300), as amended by Letter of amendment No 1/2017 (COM(2016)0679),

— having regard to the position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, which the Council adopted on 12 September 2016 and forwarded to Parliament on 14 September 2016 (11900/2016 — C8-0373/2016),

— having regard to its position of 26 October 2016 on the 2017 draft general budget (4),

— having regard to the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 17 November 2016 (14635/2016 — C8-0470/2016),

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets and the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A8-0351/2016),

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

B. whereas the Commission had proposed to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2017 beyond the ceiling of heading 3 by the amount of EUR 530 million to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security;

C. whereas the total amount of the Flexibility Instrument for the financial year 2017 is therefore fully exhausted;

1. Notes that the 2017 ceilings for heading 3 do not allow for an adequate financing of urgent measures in the field of migration, refugees and security;

2. Agrees therefore with the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 530 million in commitment appropriations;

3. Agrees furthermore to the proposed allocation of the corresponding payment appropriations of EUR 238,3 million in 2017, EUR 91 million in 2018, EUR 141,9 million in 2019 and EUR 58,8 million in 2020;

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 and reiterates its position expressed in the framework of the MFF mid-term review/revision that the annual amount of the Flexibility Instrument be increased to EUR 2 billion;

5. Reiterates its long-standing view that, without prejudice to the possibility for payment appropriations to be mobilised for specific budget lines through the Flexibility Instrument without prior mobilisations in commitments, the payments stemming from commitments previously mobilised through the Flexibility Instrument can only be counted over and above the 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 L 103, 22.4.2015, p. 1.

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

(4) Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0411.