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Amending budget 5/2012: mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for Italy; European Year of Volunteering 2011

2012/2242(BUD)

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Francesca BALZANI (S&D, IT) on the Council position on Draft amending budget No 5/2012 of the European Union for the financial year 2012, Section III – Commission.

Members recall that this Draft amending budget relates to the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for an amount of EUR 670 192 359 in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the series of earthquakes in Emilia-Romagna, Italy in May 2012.

It also covers:

  • the formally entering of this budgetary adjustment in the 2012 budget, and the modification of the budget line 16 05 03 01 – Preparatory action – European Year of Volunteering 2011 to replace the "dash" for payments on the line with a token entry (p.m.), in order to allow the final payments to be made;
  • an increase in the level of payment appropriations, given the overall shortage of payment appropriations for 2012.

On the question of the mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund, Members recall the European Parliament’s position expressed in its resolution of 12 June 2012 on the Council position on Draft amending budget No 2/2012, relating to another mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund, in which Parliament greatly deplored in a specific case of mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund, that the other branch of the budgetary authority had waited 8 weeks before adopting its position, sticking to its interpretation of Protocol 1 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (deadline for national parliaments' information). They consider of great importance the quick release of financial assistance through the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for those affected by natural catastrophes. They strongly reiterate their call to Council not to harm efforts towards a prompter delivery of Union assistance through any undue postponement of its decision on such sensitive and pressing issue.

Members also recall that for the previous mobilisation of the EUSF (Amending Budget No 2/2012 for October 2011 flooding in Liguria and Tuscany), the budgetary authority did not need to provide fresh money only because some unexpected sources for redeployments appeared for the required amount. They underline that the current shortage of payment appropriations strictly excludes any such redeployment to be envisaged for this case. In so doing, they approve, without amendment, Council's position on Draft amending budget No 5/2012.