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 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 and on sound financial management

(COM(2014)0348 – C8‑0021/2014 – 2014/2038(BUD))

The European Parliament,

–       having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0348 – C8‑0021/2014),

–       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 Joint conclusions agreed by the Parliament and the Council on 8 December 2014,

–       having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0077/2014),

A.     Whereas, in line with Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 which amended Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, an amount of EUR 50 000 000 is made available for the payment of advances through appropriations in the general budget of the Union,

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 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.

(1) OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3. (2) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884. (3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.

on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund

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 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(2), and in particular point 11 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European 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)         Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (3) allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 500 million (2011 prices).

(3)         Article 4a(4) of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 foresees that the Fund may be mobilised in an amount up to a maximum of EUR 50 000 000 for the payment of advances and the corresponding appropriations entered into the general budget of the Union.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, the European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 50 000 000 in commitment and payment appropriations for the payment of advances.

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

(1)               OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3. (2)               OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1. (3)               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).

The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was set up to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity to disaster-stricken regions within Europe. The Fund can provide financial aid to Member States and countries engaged in accession negotiations in the event of a major natural disaster if the total direct damage caused by the disaster exceeds €3 billion at 2011 prices or 0.6% of the country's gross national income, whichever is the lower. It can also be mobilised in the event of a regional disaster. The conditions for mobilising the EUSF are set out in the relevant basic act (Council Regulation (EC) N°2012/2002).

The MFF Regulation for the period 2014-2020(1) (Art. 10) allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 500 million (2011 prices), over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework.

The current Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council is not linked to a specific case of a natural disaster. Instead, it aims at entering in the Budget 2015 the amount of EUR 50 million in commitments and payments, which corresponds to advances that will need to be paid out in a speedier and more efficient way in the event of a natural disaster next year.

This is the direct result of the new provision of the new EU Solidarity Fund Regulation(2), which was adopted for the first time under the ordinary legislative procedure. The European Parliament strongly defended this point in the relevant negotiations with Council, acknowledging the need for Member States to receive financial support to respond to a natural disaster more rapidly than is possible through the normal procedure. This position prevailed in the relevant negotiations and an amount of up to a maximum EUR 50 million should be budgeted annually for this purpose.

It should be noted that an advance can be granted at the requested of a Member State and following a preliminary assessment of the respective EUSF application by the Commission. The amount of the advance should not exceed 10% of the financial contribution anticipated (and not exceed EUR 30 million). The payment of an advance should not prejudice the outcome of the final decision on the mobilisation of the Fund, and unduly paid advances should be repaid by the Member State within a determined short period of time.

The Rapporteur recalls that the EUSF is not simply another form of financial support from the EU, but also contributes to sending a clear political message of solidarity, while providing genuine assistance to the affected citizens. Therefore a prompt reaction, including through the payment of an advance, will help achieve these objectives.

The Rapporteur recommends, therefore, that these amounts are included in the Budget 2015.

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884. (2) OJ L 189, 27.06.2014, p. 143