REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in application of 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
2.6.2008 - (COM(2008)0200 – C6-0164/2008 – 2008/2091(ACI))
Committee on Budgets
Rapporteur: Reimer Böge
PR_ACI_Funds
MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in application of 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
(COM(2008)0200 ‑ C6-0164/2008 ‑ 2008/2091(ACI))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2008)0200 - C6-0164/2008
– 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[1], and in particular point 26 thereof,
– having regard to the result of the trialogue amongst the Commission and the two arms of the budgetary authority held on 16 April 2008,
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A6-0205/2008),
1. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;
2. Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for publication of this decision in the Official Journal of the European Union;
3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and Commission.
- [1] OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2008/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 6, 10.1.2008, p. 7).
ANNEX - DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in accordance with 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 management[1], and in particular point 26 thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund[2],
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The European Union has created a European Union Solidarity Fund ("the Fund") to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by disasters.
(2) The Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion.
(3) Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 contains the provisions whereby the Fund may be mobilised.
(4) Greece submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, concerning a disaster caused by forest fires in August 2007,
(5) Slovenia submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, concerning a disaster caused by flooding in September 2007,
HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2008, the European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 98 023 212 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
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Greece and Slovenia applied for assistance from the Solidarity Fund, following, respectively, forest fires in August 2007 and floods in September 2007 that caused serious damage in the two countries. The applications have been presented to the Commission respectively on 30 October and 19 November, within the deadline of 10 weeks after the first damages hit the two countries.
The Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (IIA) allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion. In 2008, it has already been proposed to mobilise EUR 162 387 985 for the application of the UK, following the floods that hit that country during summer 2007. An amount of EUR 837 612 015 is still available.
On 14 April the Commission presented a preliminary amending budget (AB No 3/2008) in order to enter in the 2008 Budget appropriate commitment and payment appropriation as foreseen in point 26 of the IIA. The amount proposed by the Commission in favour of the two countries is of EUR 98 023 212, to be allocated under heading 3b of the Financial Framework
The amount of compensation proposed for Greece and Slovenia, will leave at least 25 % of the European Union Solidarity Fund available for allocation during the last quarter of the year, as required by Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) 2012/2002.
According to point 26 of the IIA, a trialogue has been held on 16 April amongst the Commission and the two arms of the budgetary authority in order to assess the proposal for the PAB 3/2008 of which the proposal for a mobilisation of the fund is part.
On 6 May the Committee on Budgets held a debate with representatives of both the European Commission and the Greek administration to evaluate the conditions of delivering and implementation on the ground, as well as to give visibility to the role played by the Parliament in the mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund.
The Committee on Regional Development, asked for an opinion, decided on 28 May 2008 to take no action on this proposal in order not to slow down the allocation process.
The amount of damage and the aid proposed by the Commission can be resumed as follows:
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(EUR) |
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Direct damage |
Total amount ofaid proposed
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Greece forest fires |
2 118 273 411 |
89 769 009 |
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Slovenia flooding |
233 395 389 |
8 254 203 |
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Total |
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98 023 212 |
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The Rapporteur recommends the approval of the Commission proposal.
RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE
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Date adopted |
6.5.2008 |
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Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
13 1 |
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Members present for the final vote |
Reimer Böge, Costas Botopoulos, Simon Busuttil, Brigitte Douay, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Catherine Guy-Quint, Jutta Haug, Mario Mauro, Gérard Onesta, Margaritis Schinas, László Surján, Kyösti Virrankoski, Ralf Walter |
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Substitute(s) present for the final vote |
Hans-Peter Martin |
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