52005PC0247

[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 6.6.2005

COM(2005) 247 final

2005/0109 (COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the mobilisation of the European Union 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] provides for mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund through a flexibility mechanism within an annual ceiling of one billion euros over and above the relevant headings of the financial perspective. The eligibility criteria for the Fund are set out in detail in Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002.[2]

According to the request for assistance from the Fund made by Slovakia, which was hit by a storm, the estimated damage was:

Direct damage |

Slovakia | EUR 5 667 578 |

Total | EUR 5 667 578 |

After assessing this request[3], given the maximum possible grant from the Fund as well as the scope for reallocating appropriations under the relevant heading for additional expenditure, the Commission is proposing that EUR 5 667 578 be provided from the Solidarity Fund, to be allocated under heading 3 of the financial perspective.

The Commission will present an amending budget in order to enter specific commitment appropriations in the 2005 budget, as required by point 4 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002.

2005/0109 (COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the mobilisation of the European Union 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[4] supplementing the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure, and in particular point 3 thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund[5],

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

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

(2) Slovakia submitted an application to mobilise the Fund on 24 January 2005, following a disaster caused by a storm.

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

(4) The storm disaster in Slovakia in November 2004 fulfils the criteria for mobilising the European Union Solidarity Fund,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 5 667 578 in commitment appropriations from the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2005.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

[1] J C 283, 20.11.2002, p. 1.

[2] J L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.

[3] Memorandum to the Commission analysing the request made by Slovakia to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund.

[4] J C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.

[5] J L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.