PURPOSE : to adopt amending budget 6/2005.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : 2006/3/EC, Euratom.

CONTENT : with regard to the decision of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2005 (please refer to the summary of the resolution) to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund for the amount of EUR 92 880 830 to grant financial assistance to Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for severe damages caused by a major storm on 8 January 2005, the European Parliament has finally adopted amending budget No 6 of the European Union for the financial year 2005.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution welcoming draft amending budget No 7/2005, the purpose of which is to enter without delay the budgetary resources mobilised from the European Union Solidarity Fund in the 2005 budget so that those affected by these natural disasters can be assisted. Parliament approved draft amending budget N° 7/2005, unamended.

On 9 September 2005, the Commission forwarded to the Council Preliminary Draft Amending Budget (PDAB) No 6/2005 concerning the general statement of revenue and expenditure of Section III (Commission) as well as a proposal for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund for Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which had been affected by serious storms on 8 January 2005.

The aim of this PDAB is to enter in the budget a total amount of EUR 92.880.830 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to allocate to these Member States financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund.

A trialogue meeting provided for by the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 on the funding of the European Union Solidarity Fund was held on 18 October 2005 and agreed the following:

to approve commitment appropriations as proposed by the Commission; to fully cover the necessary payment appropriations for this Draft Amending Budget with the revenue from Article 710 - Fines, periodic penalty, payments and other penalties instead of calling for fresh money; and, lastly, to adopt this Amending Budget in a single reading.

On 9 September 2005, the Commission forwarded to the Council Preliminary Draft Amending Budget (PDAB) No 6/2005 concerning the general statement of revenue and expenditure of Section III (Commission) as well as a proposal for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund for Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which had been affected by serious storms on 8 January 2005.

The aim of this PDAB is to enter in the budget a total amount of EUR 92.880.830 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to allocate to these Member States financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund.

A trialogue meeting provided for by the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 on the funding of the European Union Solidarity Fund was held on 18 October 2005 and agreed the following:

to approve commitment appropriations as proposed by the Commission; to fully cover the necessary payment appropriations for this Draft Amending Budget with the revenue from Article 710 - Fines, periodic penalty, payments and other penalties instead of calling for fresh money; and, lastly, to adopt this Amending Budget in a single reading.

PURPOSE: To present a preliminary draft amending budget (no 6 to the budget for 2005) in order to offer EU Solidarity Funds to Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for damage caused by severe storms in 2005.

CONTENT: In early January 2005 major storms caused extensive damage to large parts of northern Europe. Within a ten week deadline, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania applied for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund. Of the EUR 1 billion made available to the Solidarity Fund in 2005, a total of EUR 994.3 million is still available for use. Having examined and evaluated in detail the requests of the aforementioned Member States, the Commission considers is feasible to offer a total amount of EUR 92. 88 million from the Solidarity Funds. It will be divided as follows:

- Sweden, a total of EUR 81 724 975

- Estonia, a total of EUR 1 289 765

- Latvia, a total of EUR 9 487 780

- Lithuania, a total of EUR 378 910

In other words, an overall total of EUR 92 880 830

PURPOSE: To present a preliminary draft amending budget (no 6 to the budget for 2005) in order to offer EU Solidarity Funds to Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for damage caused by severe storms in 2005.

CONTENT: In early January 2005 major storms caused extensive damage to large parts of northern Europe. Within a ten week deadline, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania applied for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund. Of the EUR 1 billion made available to the Solidarity Fund in 2005, a total of EUR 994.3 million is still available for use. Having examined and evaluated in detail the requests of the aforementioned Member States, the Commission considers is feasible to offer a total amount of EUR 92. 88 million from the Solidarity Funds. It will be divided as follows:

- Sweden, a total of EUR 81 724 975

- Estonia, a total of EUR 1 289 765

- Latvia, a total of EUR 9 487 780

- Lithuania, a total of EUR 378 910

In other words, an overall total of EUR 92 880 830