52004PC0168

Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund according to point 3 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the financing of the European Union Solidarity Fund, supplementing the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 [1] allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund through a flexibility mechanism, within the annual ceiling of 1 billion euros, over and above the relevant headings of the financial perspective. The conditions of eligibility to the Fund are detailed in Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 [2].

[1] OJ C 283 of 20.11.2002, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 311 of 14.11.2002, p. 3.

On the basis of applications for assistance from the Fund by France, Malta and Spain which were affected by disasters resulting from severe flooding (Malta and France) and by forest fires (Spain), total estimates of the damage caused are as follows:

// Direct damage

France // 785,000,000 euros

Malta // 30,172,000 euros

Spain // 53,231,000 euros

Total // 868,403,000 euros

In the light of the examination of these applications [3], and considering the maximum possible grant from the Fund as well as the scope for reallocating appropriations under the heading requiring additional expenditure, the Commission proposes to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund for a total amount of 21,916,995 euros, to be allocated under headings 3 and 7 of the financial perspective.

[3] Communication to the Commission from Mr Barnier, Mrs Schreyer, Mr Verheugen and Mr Fischler on six applications to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund introduced by Greece, France, Spain, Malta and Italy.

The Commission will present an amending budget (AB) in order to enter in the 2004 budget specific commitment appropriations, broken down by beneficiary country, as requested in Point 4 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002.

Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund according to point 3 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the financing of the European Union Solidarity Fund, supplementing the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the financing of the European Union Solidarity Fund, supplementing the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure [4], and in particular point 3 thereof,

[4] OJ C 172 of 18.6.1999, p. 1.

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) N° 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund [5],

[5] OJ L 311 of 14.11.2002, p. 3.

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The European Union has created a European Union Solidarity Fund (the "Fund") to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by disasters.

(2) Malta submitted an application to mobilise the Fund on 10 November 2003, concerning a disaster caused by storm and flooding, Spain submitted one on 01 October 2003 concerning a fire-related disaster and France did the same on 26 January 2004 concerning a disaster caused by flooding.

(3) The Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion.

(4) The cases of the storm and flooding in Malta in September 2003, the forest fire in Spain in the summer of 2003 and the flooding in southern France in December 2003 fulfil the criteria to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund.

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2004, the European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of 21,916,995 euros in commitment appropriations.

Article 2

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, [...]

The European Parliament For the Council

The President The President