Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund according to point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management
Date: 2007-09-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Council of the European Union, European Commission, European Parliament, budgetary procedure, commitment of expenditure, financial aid, financial management, fund (EU), interinstitutional agreement

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 13.9.2007 
COM(2007) 526 final 

Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund according to point 26 of the 
Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the 
Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  17  May  20061  allows  for  the  mobilisation  of  the 
European Union Solidarity Fund through a flexibility mechanism, within the annual ceiling of 
EUR 1 billion,  over  and  above  the  relevant  headings  of  the  financial  perspective.  The 
conditions of eligibility to the Fund are detailed in Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/20022. 

On  the  basis  of  applications  for  assistance  from  the  Fund  by  Germany  and  France  (La 
Réunion) which were affected by a major storm in January and a tropical cyclone in February 
2007 respectively, total estimates of the damage caused are as follows: 

Direct damage  

Aid proposed 

(in EUR) 

Germany, storm Kyrill 
France/La Réunion, cyclone Gamède 
Total 

4 687 300 000
211 600 000
4 898 900 000

166 905 985
5 290 000
172 195 985

In the light of the examination of these applications3, and considering the maximum possible 
grant  from  the  Fund  as  well  as  the  scope  for  reallocating  appropriations  under  the  heading 
requiring  additional  expenditure,  the  Commission  proposes  to  mobilise  the  European  Union 
Solidarity Fund for a total amount of EUR 172 195 985, to be allocated under heading 3b of 
the financial framework. 

The Commission will present an amending budget (AB) in order to enter in the 2007 budget 
specific  commitment  and  payment  appropriations,  broken  down  by  beneficiary  country,  as 
requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006. 

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3 

OJ C 139, 14.06.2006, p. 1 
OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3 
Communication to the Commission on an application to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund 
introduced  by  Germany  in  the  case  of  a  major  storm  in  January  2007  and  Communication  to  the 
Commission on an application to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund introduced by France 
(La  Réunion)  in  the  case  of  a  tropical  cyclone  in  February  2007  setting  out  the  analysis  of  the 
Commission of the requests. 

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Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund according to point 26 of the 
Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the 
Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

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 
management4, and in particular point 26 thereof, 

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing 
the European Union Solidarity Fund5, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,6 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

The  European  Union  has  created  a  European  Union  Solidarity  Fund  (the  "Fund")  to 
show solidarity with the population of regions struck by disasters. 

The Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 allows the mobilisation of the Fund 
within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion. 

Regulation  (EC)  No  2012/2002  contains  the  provisions  whereby  the  Fund  may  be 
mobilised, 

Germany  and  France  submitted  applications  to  mobilise  the  Fund,  concerning  two 
disasters caused by a major storm and a tropical cyclone respectively. 

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

For  the  general  budget  of  the  European  Union  for  the  financial  year  2007,  the  European 
Union  Solidarity  Fund  shall  be  mobilised  to  provide  the  sum  of  EUR 172 195 985  in 
commitment and payment appropriations. 

4 
5 
6 

OJ C 139, 14.06.2006, p. 1. 
OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3. 
OJ C […], […], p. […] 

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This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Done at Brussels,  

Article 2 

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

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