Amending budget 3/2008: bluetongue vaccinations; Joint Technology Initiatives; EU Solidarity Fund; establishment plans of European Institute for Gender Equality and European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

PURPOSE: final adoption of amending budget No 3 of the European Union for the financial year 2008.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2008/606/EC, Euratom.

CONTENT: the European Parliament effected the final adoption of amending budget 3/2008 of the European Union, in accordance with its resolution of 5 June 2008 (please refer to the summary of the resolution).   

This amending budget covers the following issues:

• the budgeting of the revenue accruing from the Microsoft case (fine and interest totalling EUR 849 200 000),
• the budgeting of savings arising from the smaller than estimated increase for salaries and pensions of officials in 2007,
• the reinforcement of the emergency fund for veterinary measures due to the bluetongue crisis by EUR 130 million in commitment appropriations, and EUR 63 950 000 in payment appropriations,
• the creation of budgetary items to accommodate subsidies for four Joint Undertakings (IMI, Clean Sky, Artemis and ENIAC),
• the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 98 million in commitment and payment appropriations (relating to forest fires in Greece and floods in Slovenia),
• the modifications to the establishment plan of the European Institute for Gender Equality, and of the European Economic and Social Committee.