Flexibility Instrument: mobilisation to complement the financing of the European GNSS programmes EGNOS-GALILEO and of  the Common Foreign and Security Policy CFSP

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the report drafted by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument. The proposal aims to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument in order to finance the CFSP and the European GNSS programmes for a total amount of EUR 270 million. This mobilisation is deemed necessary to the extent that amounts initially allocated did not allow for an adequate financing of Galileo and the CFSP in 2008.  The budgetary authority considers it imperative to adequately fund the GNSS Programmes, and   increasing needs in CFSP area were of great concern during the preparation of the 2008 Budget, particularly in view of the need to mobilise the necessary resources for the EU mission in Kosovo.

Parliament recalled that the two arms of the budgetary authority decided at the conciliation meeting on 23 November 2007 (see BUD/2007/2019) to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the 2008 budget of the European GNSS programmes (EGNOS-GALILEO) for an amount of EUR 200 million, and the CFSP for an amount of EUR 70 million.

Parliament underlined the joint efforts that have safeguarded sufficient resources for new and existing CFSP/ESDP missions, in particular the planned EU Police Mission in Kosovo.It reiterated, however, that external actions in general, and CFSP in particular, are not sufficiently catered for in the long term compared to the demands now identified. Parliament was convinced that CFSP funding suffers from this structural problem and that it merits a multi-annual solution for future years (as proved by the fact that needs for both 2007 and 2008 largely exceed the annual forecasts made at the time of adopting the financial framework). It would therefore welcome proposals from Commission and Council indicating possible ways forward.