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Amending budget 4/2011: migration and refugee flows; own resources

2011/2128(BUD)

On 17 June 2011, the Commission submitted to the Council draft amending budget (DAB) No 4 to the general budget for 2011, covering following elements:

  • revision of the forecast of Own Resources;
  • reinforcement of commitment appropriations (c/a) and payment appropriations (p/a) for EU actions in the field of migration;
  • reduction of the level of p/a for energy projects under the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP).

The combined net financial impact of this draft amending budget is EUR 41.1 million in c/a and none in p/a.

Revision of the Member States' contributions to the EU budget for 2011: this part of the DAB No 4 covers the revision of Member States' contributions to the EU budget. It steams from the revision of forecasts of the traditional own resources (TOR) and of VAT and GNI bases based on more recent economic updates. It also includes the budgeting of the rectified UK corrections for the years 2006, 2007 and 2010 and the revision of the financing of the GNI reductions in 2011, in favour of the Netherlands and Sweden.

Migration and Refugee flows: due to the recent developments in the Southern Mediterranean resulting in the high migratory pressure, the Commission proposed to reinforce appropriations for the management of migration flows, supporting the efforts of Member States directly concerned. They would be allocated as follows:

  • EUR 22.2 million in c/a and EUR 19.9 million in p/a for the External Borders Fund, the European Return Fund and the European Refugee Fund to finance transnational actions in situations of emergency;
  • EUR 30 million in c/a and EUR 24 million in p/a for Frontex, with a view to strengthen the agency's capacities in carrying out the maritime surveillance.

c/a will be covered by redeployment of EUR 10 million from Article 18 05 09 (Prevention of and fight against crime) and of EUR 1.1 million from the assigned revenue appropriations. EUR 41.1 million will be drawn from the margin under sub-heading 3a which currently stands at EUR 67 millions. p/a (EUR 43.9 million) will be covered by redeployment from Article 32 04 04 (Energy projects to aid economic recovery).

Energy projects under the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP): the Commission reviewed downwards the level of p/a necessary in 2011 for the financing of some energy projects under the EERP due to delays in payment schedules. The under-implementation amounts to EUR 357.1 million for Item 32 04 14 01 (Energy networks) and EUR 36 million for Item 32 04 14 03 (Carbon Capture and Storage). Taking into account two necessary reinforcements of Items 32 04 14 03 (European offshore wind grid system) and 32 04 14 04 (Energy efficiency and renewable initiatives) for an amount of EUR 41 million, the total expected under-implementation for energy projects under the EERP at year-end amounts to EUR 352 million in p/a available for redeployment.

Conclusion: on 12 September 2011, the Council adopted its position on draft amending budget No 4 of the European Union for the financial year 2011 as set out in the technical annex to the explanatory memorandum to this draft amending budget.