European Parliament resolution of 18 September 2019 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria (COM(2019)0206 – C9-0005/2019 – 2019/2023(BUD))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2019)0206 – C9‑0005/2019),
– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund(1),
– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(2), and in particular Article 10 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(3), and in particular point 11 thereof,
– having regard to the letter from the Committee on Regional Development,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0002/2019),
1. Welcomes the decision as a sign of the Union’s solidarity with the Union citizens and regions hit by the natural disasters;
2. Stresses the urgent need to release financial assistance through the European Union Solidarity Fund (the ‘Fund’) to the regions affected by natural disasters in the Union in 2018;
3. Welcomes the Commission proposal(4) of 7 March 2019 to amend the Union Civil Protection Mechanism as a key tool for strengthening the Union’s disaster risk management capacities, with a financial envelope for the 2021-2027 financing period that matches the level of ambition set in Decision (EU) 2019/420 of the European Parliament and of the Council(5) and in line with the European Parliament resolution of 14 November 2018 on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 (6); is convinced that the Fund and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism should go hand in hand in preventing, preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the Member States;
4. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;
5. 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;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.
Decision (EU) 2019/420 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2019 amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 77I, 20.3.2019, p. 1.).
ANNEX: DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Austria, Italy and Romania
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 Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund(1), and in particular Article 4(3) 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(2), 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 in order to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by natural disasters.
(2) The Fund is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 500 000 000 (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013(3).
(3) On 7 September 2018, Romania submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following extreme weather events provoking extensive floods.
(4) On 20 December 2018, Italy submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following extreme weather events.
(5) On 14 January 2019, Austria submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following extreme weather events.
(6) The applications by Romania, Italy and Austria meet the conditions for providing a financial contribution from the Fund, as laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002.
(7) The Fund should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution to Romania, Italy and Austria.
(8) In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, this Decision should apply from the date of its adoption,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2019, the European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised as follows in commitment and payment appropriations:
(a) the amount of EUR 8 192 300 shall be provided to Romania;
(b) the amount of EUR 277 204 595 shall be provided to Italy;
(c) the amount of EUR 8 154 899 shall be provided to Austria.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from … [the date of its adoption](4).
Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).