(1)

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aims to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, as a result of a continuation of the global financial and economic crisis, or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis, and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)

The EGF is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (3).

(3)

On 22 May 2018, Greece submitted an application to mobilise the EGF, in respect of redundancies in the publishing activities sector in the region of Attica. It was supplemented by additional information provided in accordance with Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013. That application complies with the requirements for determining a financial contribution from the EGF as laid down in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013.

(4)

The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution of EUR 2 308 500 in respect of the application submitted by Greece.

(5)

In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the EGF, this decision should apply from the date of its adoption,

(1)

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.

(2)

The ceiling on the annual amount available for the Flexibility Instrument is EUR 600 000 000 (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 11 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (2) increased, where applicable, by lapsed amounts made available in accordance with the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of that Article.

(3)

In order to reinforce key programmes for the competitiveness of the EU and to address the ongoing challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats, it is necessary to mobilise significant additional amounts to finance such measures as a matter of urgency.

(4)

Having examined all possibilities for reallocating appropriations under the expenditure ceiling of heading 1a (Competitiveness for growth and jobs) and heading 3 (Security and citizenship), it is necessary to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to supplement the financing available in the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2019 beyond the ceilings of heading 1a by the amount of EUR 178 715 475 to reinforce key programmes for the competitiveness of the EU and of heading 3 by the amount of EUR 985 629 138 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security.

(5)

On the basis of the expected payment profile, the payment appropriations corresponding to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument should be distributed over several financial years.

(6)

In order to allow for the quick use of the funds, this Decision should apply from the beginning of the financial year 2019,

(1)

The European Union Solidarity Fund (the ‘Fund’) aims to enable the Union to respond in a rapid, efficient and flexible manner to emergency situations in order to to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by natural disasters.

(2)

The Fund is not to exceed a maximum amount of EUR 500 000 000 (2011 prices) as laid down in Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (3).

(3)

Article 4a(4) of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 provides that, where necessary in order to ensure the timely availability of budgetary resources, the Fund may be mobilised in an amount of up to EUR 50 000 000 for the payment of advances, entering the corresponding appropriations into the general budget of the Union.

(4)

To ensure the timely availability of sufficient budgetary resources in the general budget of the Union for 2019, the Fund should be mobilised in the amount of EUR 50 000 000 for the payment of advances.

(5)

In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, this Decision should apply from the beginning of the 2019 financial year,