Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund to provide for payment of advances in the 2016 budget
Date: 2015-05-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: aid to disaster victims, commitment of expenditure, drawing up of the EU budget, emergency aid, financial aid, financial year, fund (EU), general budget (EU), natural disaster



COM_2015_281_810508_EN_ACTE_1_f_1.docx






EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 27.5.2015
COM(2015) 281 final
Proposal for a
DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund to provide for payment of advances in the 2016 budget






EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM


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 the Article 10 thereof allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, within an annual ceiling of EUR 500 million (2011 prices), over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework.


Point 11 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters on and sound financial management
2
 set out the modalities for the mobilisation of the Fund.


The conditions of eligibility to the Fund are detailed in Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002
3
, which foresees that an amount of up to a maximum of EUR 50 000 000 in both commitment and payment appropriations shall be included in the budget for the payment of advances.


The Commission shall include these amounts in the Draft Budget 2016.


Proposal for a


DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL


on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund to provide for payment of advances in the 2016 budget


THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,


Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) N° 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund
4
, and in particular Article 4a(4) thereof,


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
5
, and in particular point 11 thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,


Whereas:


(1)The European Union Solidarity Fund (the "Fund") aims to enable the Union to respond in a rapid, efficient and flexible manner to emergency situations and to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by disasters.


(2)The Fund is not to exceed a maximum amount of EUR 500 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) N° 1311/2013
6
.


(3)Article 4a(4) of (EC) N°2012/2002 foresees that an amount of EUR 50 000 000 is made available for the payment of advances through appropriations in the general budget of the Union.


(4)The Fund should therefore be mobilised in order to provide the sum of EUR 50 000 000 for the payment of the advances.






HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:




Article 1


For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, the European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 50 000 000 in commitment and payment appropriations.



Article 2 


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


Done at Brussels,



For the European Parliament
   For the Council


The President
   The President







(1)
OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.



(2)
OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.



(3)
OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.



(4)
OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3. 



(5)
OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.



(6)
 OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.