Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund: payment of advances in the general budget for 2019

PURPOSE: to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to provide for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for 2019.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: Council Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, within an annual ceiling of EUR 500 million (2011 prices), over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework.

The conditions of eligibility to the Fund are detailed in the Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/20023, which foresees that an amount of up to a maximum of EUR 50 000 000 in both commitment and payment appropriations shall be included in the budget for the payment of advances.

CONTENT: in order to ensure the timely availability of sufficient budgetary resources in the general budget of the Union for 2019, the Commission proposes that the European Union Solidarity Fund be mobilised to the amount of EUR 50 million for the payment of advances.

The decision should apply from the beginning of the 2019 financial year so as to limit the time taken to mobilise the Fund.