Amending budget 4/2017: mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund for Italy

On 27 June 2017, the Commission submitted to the Council draft amending budget (DAB) No 4 to the general budget for 2017 regarding the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for a total amount of EUR 1 166 797 579 in commitment and payment appropriations.

The objective of this proposal is to provide financial assistance to Italy in response to a series of earthquakes that took place between August 2016 and January 2017 in the regions Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche and Umbria.

The corresponding appropriations are to be recorded under Article 13 06 01 (EU Solidarity Fund - Assistance to Member States in the event of a major natural disaster with serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the economy), after the deduction of the advance already paid in 2016 (EUR 30 million).

The Commission proposes to finance the necessary payment appropriations from the surplus identified in some completion lines related to the European Regional Development Fund (-EUR 981 150 000) and the Cohesion Fund (-EUR 256 050 013).

Furthermore, the negative reserve activated in amending budget No 1/2017 is replenished (+EUR 70 402 434).

In conclusion, on 4 September 2017, the Council adopted its position on DAB No 4 to the general budget for 2017 as set out in the technical annex to the explanatory memorandum of its position on the draft amending budget (see Council document 11813/2017).