Budgetary discipline: mobilisation of the flexibility instrument for the rehabilitation and the reconstruction following the tsunami disaster

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE)stating that,  for the amending budget No 4/2005 to the general budget of the EU for the financial year 2005, the flexibility instrument will be used to provide the sum of EUR 15 000 000 in commitment appropriations.

This amount will be used for the financing of the aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the earthquake/Tsunami affected countries in Asia, covered by Heading 4 "External actions" of the financial perspective, under the article "Rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries in Asia" of the 2005 budget.

Parliament stressed that the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument provided for in point 24 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 was decided in December 2004 for 2005, as the necessary funding to face international crises since 2000 could not be provided within the initial ceilings of heading 4 of the financial perspective.

It criticised the Council's unwillingness to mobilise the flexibility instrument in the amount of EUR 98 million, as proposed by the Commission, which delayed adoption of the decision to mobilise the flexibility instrument.