PURPOSE: to mobilise Solidarity Funds to assist the United Kingdom following the severe floods in June and July 2007.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2008/267/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in application of point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management.

CONTENT: this Decision provides that the European Union Solidarity Fund will be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 162 387 985 in commitment and payment appropriations, to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework. The Fund is mobilised in favour of the United Kingdom which was affected by floods in June and July 2007.

In parallel, the Commission has adopted an amending budget (AB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget the specific commitment and payment appropriations, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2316 ).

The European Union has created the EU Solidarity Fund to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by disasters. The Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion.

The European Parliament adopted, by 626 votes to 7 with 10 abstentions, a resolution drawn up by on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund, following the application by the United Kingdom to mobilise the Fund due to a disaster caused by flooding in June and July 2007.

The report had been tabled for plenary by Reimer BOGE (EPP-ED, D) on behalf of the Committee on Budgets.

Parliament approved the mobilisation of the Fund to provide the sum of EUR 162 387 985 in commitment and payment appropriations for the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2008, which will be allocated through Amending Budget 1/2008 adopted on the same day. (Please see BUD/2008/2017 ).

The Committee on Budgets adopted a report drawn up by Reimer BOGE (EPP-ED, D) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund, following the application by the United Kingdom to mobilise the Fund due to a disaster caused by flooding in June and July 2007. The report approved the mobilisation of the Fund to provide the sum of EUR 162 387 985 in commitment and payment appropriations for the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2008.

PURPOSE: to conclude an Interinstitutional Agreement in order to mobilise Solidarity Funds to assist the United Kingdom following the severe floods in June and July 2007.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council (Interinstitutional Agreement)

CONTENT: The Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund through a flexibility mechanism, within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion, 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 (refer to procedure file CNS/2002/0228 ).

On the basis of an application for assistance from the Fund by the United Kingdom which was affected by floods in June and July 2007, total estimates of the damage caused are as follows:

Direct damage: €4 612 000 000; Aid proposed: €162 387 985

In the light of the examination of the application, 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 EUR 162 387 985, to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.

The Commission will present an amending budget (AB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget the specific commitment and payment appropriations, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2017 ).

PURPOSE: to conclude an Interinstitutional Agreement in order to mobilise Solidarity Funds to assist the United Kingdom following the severe floods in June and July 2007.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council (Interinstitutional Agreement)

CONTENT: The Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund through a flexibility mechanism, within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion, 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 (refer to procedure file CNS/2002/0228 ).

On the basis of an application for assistance from the Fund by the United Kingdom which was affected by floods in June and July 2007, total estimates of the damage caused are as follows:

Direct damage: €4 612 000 000; Aid proposed: €162 387 985

In the light of the examination of the application, 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 EUR 162 387 985, to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.

The Commission will present an amending budget (AB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget the specific commitment and payment appropriations, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2017 ).