Union Solidarity Fund: mobilisation for Hungary and Greece following the floods in March and April 2006

PURPOSE: to conclude an interinstitutional agreement in order to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to provide financial assistance to Hungary and Greece in relation to damage resulting from floods in 2006.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 930/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund according to 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.

CONTENT: the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 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 perspective.

On the basis of applications for assistance from the Fund by Hungary and Greece which were affected by severe floods in March and April 2006, estimates of the damage caused amount to EUR 891 357 883.

In the light of the examination of the applications from Hungary and Greece, 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 decided to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund for a total amount of EUR 24 370 114, to be allocated under heading 3 of the financial perspective.

At the same time, an amending budget has been approved in order to enter in the 2007 budget specific commitment and payment appropriations, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2007/2069).