REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union 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
5.6.2012 - (COM(2012)0126 – C7‑0078/2012 – 2012/2051(BUD))
Committee on Budgets
Rapporteur: José Manuel Fernandes
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 European Union 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
(COM(2012)0126 – C7‑0078/2012 – 2012/2051(BUD))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2012)0126 – C7‑0078/2012),
– 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 Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, adopted during the conciliation meeting on 17 July 2008 on the Solidarity Fund,
– having regard to the letter of the Committee on Regional Development,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0182/2012),
1. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;
2. Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and to arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;
3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.
ANNEX: DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of xxx
on the mobilisation of the European Union 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) Italy submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, concerning a disaster caused by flooding in Liguria and Tuscany.
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2012, the European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 18 061 682 in commitment and payment appropriations.
Article 2
This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at …
For the European Parliament For the Council
The President The President
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The Commission proposes to mobilise the European Solidarity Fund in favour of Italy on the basis of point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006. The IIA allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion. This is the first proposal to mobilise the Fund in 2012.
In parallel to this proposal to mobilise the Solidarity Fund in favour of Italy, the Commission has presented a draft amending budget (DAB No 2/2012 of 16 March 2012) in order to enter in the 2012 budget the corresponding commitment and payment appropriations as foreseen in point 26 of the IIA.
The Rapporteur welcomes that the Commission has proposed the mobilisation of the EUSF as a sole issue in the DAB 02/2012, in accordance with the European Parliament and Council joint declaration of 17 July 2008.
Italy applied for assistance of Fund following the flooding that affected the regions of Liguria and Tuscany in October 2011, causing severe damage to to residential homes, businesses and agriculture and the disruption of major transport links and essential public infrastructure networks.
The total direct damage caused by the flooding, as estimated by the Italian authorities, amounts to EUR 722,5 million. The disaster has been qualified as of natural origin and therefore falls within the field of application of the Solidarity Fund.
After verifying that this application complies with the eligibility criteria of Council regulation (EC) N° 2012/2002 the Commission proposed to mobilise the EU solidarity Fund for a total amount of EUR 18 061 682 in commitment and payment appropriations.
This amount will leave at least 25% of the Fund available for allocation during the last quarter of the year, as required by Article 4(2) of EC Regulation 2012/2002.
The European Commission has proposed to redeploy the EUR 18 061 682 in payment appropriations from the budget line 13 06 01 under Heading 3b of the Financial Framework established for deployment of European Union Solidarity Fund in Member States.
Figures - Solidarity Fund
|
|
|
|
|
(EUR) |
|
|
Direct damage accepted |
Threshold |
Amount based on 2,5 %
|
Amount based on 6 %
|
Total amount ofaid proposed
|
|
Liguria and Tuscany flooding 2011 |
722,467 million |
3 536 million |
18 061 682 |
- |
18 061 682 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
18 061 682 |
|
According to point 26 of the IIA of 17 May 2006, when presenting this proposal to deploy the Fund, the Commission initiates the simplified trilogue procedure in view of securing the agreement of the two arms of the Budgetary Authority on the need to use the Fund and the amount required.
According to an internal agreement with the Committee on Regional Development Committee (REGI), this committee should be associated to the process, in order to provide constructive support and contribution to the implementation of the EU Solidarity Fund.
Following the assessment of the requests, the REGI committee of the European Parliament gave their views on the mobilisation of the Fund, as expressed in the letter of opinion attached to the present report.
The Rapporteur recommends the approval of the Commission proposal for a decision annexed to this report.
Summary table by heading of the Financial Framework
Financial frameworkHeading/subheading
|
2012 Financial framework |
Budget 2012 (incl. DAB 1/2012) |
DAB 2/2012 |
Budget 2012 (incl. DAB 1-2/2012) |
|||||
CA |
PA |
CA |
PA |
CA |
PA |
CA |
PA |
||
1. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1a. Competitiveness for growth and employment |
14 853 000 000 |
|
15 403 000 000 |
11 500 977 788 |
|
|
15 403 000 000 |
11 500 977 788 |
|
Margin |
|
|
-50 000 000 |
|
|
|
-50 000 000 |
|
|
1b. Cohesion for growth and employment |
52 761 000 000 |
|
52 752 576 141 |
43 835 746 321 |
|
|
52 752 576 141 |
43 835 746 321 |
|
Margin |
|
|
8 423 859 |
|
|
|
8 423 859 |
|
|
Total |
67 614 000 000 |
|
68 155 576 141 |
55 336 724 109 |
|
|
68 155 576 141 |
55 336 724 109 |
|
Margin[1] |
|
|
-41 576 141 |
|
|
|
-41 576 141 |
|
|
2. PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Of which market related expenditure and direct payments |
48 093 000 000 |
|
43 969 637 305 |
43 875 978 049 |
|
|
43 969 637 305 |
43 875 978 049 |
|
Total |
60 810 000 000 |
|
59 975 774 185 |
57 034 220 262 |
|
|
59 975 774 185 |
57 034 220 262 |
|
Margin |
|
|
834 225 815 |
|
|
|
834 225 815 |
|
|
3. CITIZENSHIP, FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3a. Freedom, Security and Justice |
1 406 000 000 |
|
1 367 806 560 |
835 577 878 |
|
|
1 367 806 560 |
835 577 878 |
|
Margin |
|
|
38 193 440 |
|
|
|
38 193 440 |
|
|
3b. Citizenship |
699 000 000 |
|
697 436 780 |
648 700 180 |
18 061 682 |
18 061 682 |
715 498 462 |
666 761 862 |
|
Margin |
|
|
1 563 220 |
|
|
|
1 563 220 |
|
|
Total |
2 105 000 000 |
|
2 065 243 340 |
1 484 278 058 |
18 061 682 |
18 061 682 |
2 083 305 022 |
1 502 339 740 |
|
Margin[2] |
|
|
39 756 660 |
|
|
|
39 756 660 |
|
|
4. EU AS A GLOBAL PLAYER |
8 997 000 000 |
|
9 405 937 000 |
6 955 083 523 |
|
|
9 405 937 000 |
6 955 083 523 |
|
Margin[3] |
|
|
-150 000 000 |
|
|
|
-150 000 000 |
|
|
5. ADMINISTRATION |
8523 000 000 |
|
8 279 641 996 |
8 277 736 996 |
|
|
8 279 641 996 |
8 277 736 996 |
|
Margin[4] |
|
|
327 358 004 |
|
|
|
327 358 004 |
|
|
TOTAL |
148 049 000 000 |
141 360 000 000 |
147 882 172 662 |
129 088 042 948 |
18 061 682 |
18 061 682 |
147 900 234 344 |
129 106 104 630 |
|
Margin |
|
|
1 209 764 338 |
12 445 957 052 |
|
|
1 209 764 338 |
12 445 957 052 |
|
- [1] The European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF) is not included in the calculation of the margin under Heading 1a (EUR 500 million). EUR 50 million above the ceiling is financed by the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument.
- [2] The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) amount is entered over and above the relevant headings as foreseen by the IIA of 17 May 2006 (OJ C 139 of 14.6.2006)
- [3] The 2012 margin for heading 4 does not take into account the appropriations related to the Emergency Aid Reserve (EUR 258,9 million). EUR 150 million above the ceiling is financed by the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument.
- [4] For calculating the margin under the ceiling for heading 5, account is taken of the footnote (1) of the financial framework 2007-2013 for an amount of EUR 84 million for the staff contributions to the pension scheme.
ANNEX: LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Regional Development
The Chair
Mr. Alain Lamassoure
Chairman
Committee on Budgets
Building Altiero Spinelli-13E205
Brussels
11.05.2012
Subject: Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in favour of Italy
Dear Mr. Lamassoure,
The European Commission has informed the European Parliament, in its proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund (COM(2012)0126), that on the basis of applications to mobilise the Fund submitted by Italy, in relation to flooding in Liguria and Tuscany in October 2011, it proposes the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund, estimating the damage caused as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
(EUR) |
|
|
Direct damage accepted |
Threshold |
Amount based on 2,5 %
|
Amount based on 6 %
|
Total amount ofaid proposed
|
|
Liguria and Tuscany flooding 2011 |
722,467 million |
3 536 million |
18 061 682 |
- |
18 061 682 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
18 061 682 |
|
In the light of the examination of the applications, 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 18 061 682, to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.
In order to avoid undue delay in approving this measure, we are pleased to inform you that the Committee on Regional Development has no objection to the proposed mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund to allocate the above-mentioned amounts to the Financial Framework heading concerned as proposed by the Commission, and in accordance with the rules laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 and in Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, of 11 November 2002, establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund.
Yours sincerely,
Danuta Hübner
RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE
Date adopted |
31.5.2012 |
|
|
|
|
Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
34 2 0 |
|||
Members present for the final vote |
Marta Andreasen, Richard Ashworth, Francesca Balzani, Zuzana Brzobohatá, Jean-Luc Dehaene, James Elles, Göran Färm, José Manuel Fernandes, Eider Gardiazábal Rubial, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Jens Geier, Ivars Godmanis, Lucas Hartong, Sidonia Elżbieta Jędrzejewska, Anne E. Jensen, Ivailo Kalfin, Sergej Kozlík, Jan Kozłowski, Alain Lamassoure, Giovanni La Via, Claudio Morganti, Juan Andrés Naranjo Escobar, Nadezhda Neynsky, Dominique Riquet, Alda Sousa, László Surján, Jacek Włosowicz |
||||
Substitute(s) present for the final vote |
François Alfonsi, Alexander Alvaro, Charles Goerens, Edit Herczog, Jürgen Klute, Jan Olbrycht, Paul Rübig, Peter Šťastný, Gianluca Susta |
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