EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 286/52

Thursday 17 December 2009

Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument

P7_TA(2009)0113

European Parliament resolution of 17 December 2009 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument in accordance with point 27 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (COM(2009)0660 – C7-0303/2009 – 2009/2207(BUD))

2010/C 286 E/13

The European Parliament,

having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2009)0660 – C7-0303/2009),

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) the IIA, and in particular point 27 thereof,

having regard to its first reading of 22 October 2009 of the 2010 draft general budget (2),

having regard to the declaration adopted by the three institutions on 2 April 2009 on the financing of the European Economic Recovery Plan,

having regard to the results of the conciliation meeting of 18 November 2009,

having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0080/2009),

A. whereas the EU institutions consider it imperative to finance the second phase of the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP),

B. whereas during its accession negotiations, Bulgaria committed itself to the closure of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant with the help of financial support from the Community in 2007-2009,

C. whereas the decommissioning of the Kozloduy power plant will continue after 2009 and require financing of EUR 300 000 000 for the period 2010-2013,

D. whereas the two arms of the budgetary authority decided at the conciliation meeting of 18 November 2009 to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to: — complement the financing of the EERP for an amount of EUR 120 000 000 in the 2010 budget; — finance the decommissioning of the Kozloduy power plant for an amount of EUR 75 000 000 in 2010,

1. Notes that, despite the redeployment of funds from the 2009 and the 2010 margins, the ceiling of sub-heading 1a did not allow for an adequate financing of the EERP and the decommissioning of the Kozloduy power plant; welcomes, therefore, the agreement reached during the conciliation on the use of the Flexibility Instrument for these purposes for a total amount of EUR 195 000 000;

2. Deplores the fact that the Commission presented the financing needs for the Kozloduy power plant only in Letter of amendment No 2/2010, i.e. after Parliament's first reading, where Parliament had set its priorities for the 2010 budget; considers that the late arrival of the proposal, which created an additional pressure on sub-heading 1a, considerably affected the dynamics of the negotiations on the 2010 budget and Parliament's ability to pursue its political priorities;

3. Considers it, however, essential to stick to the political commitments given in the Protocol concerning the conditions and arrangement for the admission of Bulgaria to the European Union, and thus to continue financing the decommissioning of the Kozloduy power plant in 2010;

4. Points out that further financing of the decommissioning of the Kozloduy power plant in 2011-2013 should be without prejudice to the financing of existing multi-annual programmes and actions;

5. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

6. 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;

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

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

(2) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2009)0051 and P7_TA(2009)0052.