EU Solidarity Fund: mobilisation for Greece and Slovenia, respectively affected by forest fires and floods in 2007

PURPOSE: to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to help Slovenia and Greece, both affected by serious fires and flooding in 2007.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (see ACI/2004/2099) allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund through a flexibility mechanism, within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion, over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework.

The conditions of eligibility to the Fund are detailed in Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 (refer to procedure file CNS/2002/0228).

On the basis of applications for assistance from the Fund by Greece and Slovenia, which were respectively affected by forest fires in August 2007 and floods in September 2007, total estimates of the damage caused are as follows:

• Direct damage: EUR 2 118 273 411 for Greece and EUR 233 395 389 for Slovenia;
• Aid requested (Greece and Slovenia): EUR 98 023 212.

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 98 023 212, to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.

The Commission will present a preliminary draft amending budget (PDAB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget specific commitment and payment appropriations, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2095).