amending Decision (EU) 2019/276 as regards adjustments to the amounts mobilised from the Flexibility Instrument for 2019 to be used for migration, refugee inflows and security threats

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The European Parliament and the Council decided on 12 December 2018 to mobilise the Flexibility instrument for an amount of EUR 1 164 million: EUR 179 million for heading 1a Competitiveness for Growth and Jobs to reinforce key competitiveness programmes (namely Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+), and EUR 985,6 million for heading 3 as proposed by the Commission.

The Commission submits today draft amending budget No 4/2019 that includes reductions in the level of commitment appropriations for both heading 1a and 3 and therefore reduces the need for the use of the Flexibility instrument. The present proposal accompanies this DAB and aims at adjusting accordingly the amounts mobilised from the Flexibility Instrument while respecting the purpose of the mobilisation.

The adjusted mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument will amount to EUR 1 090 million (from EUR 1 164 million), of which EUR 160 million for heading 1a and EUR 930 million for heading 3.

This proposed mobilisation decision will amend Decision (EU) 2019/276 of 12 December 2018.

The indicative payment appropriations corresponding to the proposed reduced mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument are presented in the table below:

(in million EUR, at current prices)

Year Payment appropriations related to the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument in 2019 2019 511,5 2020 242,3 2021 126,3 2022 132,0 2023 78,3 Total 1 090,4

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Decision (EU) 2019/276 as regards adjustments to the amounts mobilised from the Flexibility Instrument for 2019 to be used for migration, refugee inflows and security threats

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning 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 and on sound financial management, and in particular point 12 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)The Flexibility instrument is intended to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more other headings.

(2)The ceiling on the annual amount available for the Flexibility Instrument is EUR 600 000 000 (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 11 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013, increased, where applicable by lapsed amounts made available in accordance with the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of that Article.

(3)On 12 December 2018 the European Parliament and the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/276 mobilising the Flexibility instrument for the financial year 2019 beyond the ceiling of heading 1a (Competitiveness for Growth and Jobs) by the amount of EUR 178 715 475 to reinforce key competitiveness programmes and beyond the ceiling of heading 3 (Security and citizenship) by the amount of EUR 985 629 138 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security.