The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013 as definitively adopted on 12 December 2012(1),

–  having regard to Draft amending budget No 7/2013, which the Commission submitted on 25 July 2013 (COM(2013)0557),

–  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(2), and in particular point 27 thereof,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2013)0559 – C7-0235/2013),

–  having regard to Council's position adopted on 7 October 2013,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0370/2013),

A.  whereas, after having examined all possibilities for reallocating commitment appropriations under heading 1b, it appears necessary to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument,

B.  whereas the Commission has proposed to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013, beyond the ceiling of heading 1b, of EUR 134 049 037 towards the financing of the European Social Fund (ESF) to increase the allocations to France, Italy and Spain for the year 2013 by a total amount of EUR 150 million,

1.  Takes note of Commission's proposal to exceed the 2013 ceiling for heading 1b by EUR 134 049 037, with a view to increasing ESF allocations to France, Italy and Spain for the year 2013 by a total amount of EUR 150 million, and to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument accordingly;

2.  Agrees with the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument in commitment appropriations, up to an amount of EUR 134 049 037, for the financing of those additional allocations under heading 1b;

3.  Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

4.  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;

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

(1) OJ L 66, 8.3.2013. (2) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument

(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision 2014/94/EU.)