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Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument: migration, refugee inflows and security threats; immediate measures in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak; reinforcement of the European Public Prosecutor's Office

2020/2056(BUD)

PURPOSE: to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument for 2020 to finance budgetary measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2020/546 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

CONTENT: following the agreement between the European Parliament and the Council, this Decision to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument has been adopted. The Flexibility Instrument is intended to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more other headings.

The ceiling on the annual amount available for the Flexibility Instrument is EUR 600 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013, increased, where applicable, by lapsed amounts made available.

In order to address the challenges in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, the mobilisation of Instrument is a matter of urgency.

For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2020, the Flexibility Instrument shall be mobilised to provide the amount of EUR 243 039 699 in commitment appropriations in heading 3 (Security and Citizenship).

This amount shall be used to finance immediate measures to address the current health crisis in the European Union resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Based on the expected payment profile, the payment appropriations corresponding to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument shall be estimated as follows:

- EUR 123 950 247 in 2020;

- EUR 71 453 672 in 2021;

- EUR 23 817 890 in 2022;

- EUR 23 817 890 in 2023.

This Decision is linked to financing included in Amending budget No 2 to the general budget of the European Union for 2020. In order to ensure coherence with that amending budget, this Decision shall apply from the date of its adoption.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21.4.2020. It shall apply from 17.4.2020.