Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for the financial year 2015

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Siegfried MUREŞAN (EPP, RO) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, in accordance with point 11 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management.

Members recalled that, in line with Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 which amended Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, an amount of EUR 50 million is made available for the payment of advances through appropriations in the general budget of the Union.

Members also recalled that the current Decision annexed is not linked to a specific case of a natural disaster. Instead, it aims at entering in the Budget 2015 the amount of EUR 50 million in commitments and payments, which corresponds to advances that will need to be paid out in a speedier and more efficient way in the event of a natural disaster next year.

This is the direct result of the new provision of the new EU Solidarity Fund Regulation, acknowledging the need for Member States to receive financial support to respond to a natural disaster more rapidly than is possible through the normal procedure. This position prevailed in the relevant negotiations and an amount of up to a maximum EUR 50 million should be budgeted annually for this purpose.

Therefore, the committee called on the European Parliament to approve the decision annexed to this motion for a resolution and to include the amounts in the Budget 2015.