PURPOSE: to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund in favour of Slovenia and Greece, both affected by serious fires and flooding in 2007.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2008/469/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in accordance with 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 shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 98 023 212 in commitment and payment appropriations for the general budget of the EU for the financial year 2008. Greece submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, concerning a disaster caused by forest fires in August

2007, and Slovenia submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, concerning a disaster caused by flooding in September 2007. The applications were for direct damage in the sum of EUR 2 118 273 411 for Greece and EUR 233 395 389 for Slovenia. This will be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.

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/2008/2095 ).

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. Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 contains the provisions whereby the Fund may be mobilised.

The European Parliament adopted by 637 votes to 13, with 7 abstentions, a resolution approving unamended the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in order to help Slovenia and Greece, which in 2007 were affected by flooding and forest fires respectively.

The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE) on behalf of the Committee on Budgets.

The EU Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 98 023 212 in commitment and payment appropriations for these two countries, through an amending budget adopted at the same time (see BUD/2008/2095 ).

It should be noted that the resolution calls the Commission to submit, where the EU Solidarity Fund is concerned, amending budgets that have its mobilisation as their sole purpose, in order to avoid any delay in the delivery of financial aid in cases of disaster.

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE), approving unamended the Commission’s proposal on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund to help Slovenia and Greece, which in 2007 were affected by flooding and forest fires respectively.

In accordance with the draft Decision on this issue, the EU Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 98 023 212 in commitment and payment appropriations for these two countries, through an amending budget adopted at the same time (see BUD/2008/2095 ).

PURPOSE: to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to help Slovenia and Greece, both affected by serious fires and flooding in 2007.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (see ACI/2004/2099 ) 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 framework.

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 applications for assistance from the Fund by Greece and Slovenia, which were respectively affected by forest fires in August 2007 and floods in September 2007, total estimates of the damage caused are as follows:

Direct damage: EUR 2 118 273 411 for Greece and EUR 233 395 389 for Slovenia; Aid requested (Greece and Slovenia): EUR 98 023 212.

In the light of the examination of the applications, 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 98 023 212, to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.

The Commission will present a preliminary draft amending budget (PDAB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget specific commitment and payment appropriations, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2095 ).

PURPOSE: to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to help Slovenia and Greece, both affected by serious fires and flooding in 2007.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (see ACI/2004/2099 ) 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 framework.

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 applications for assistance from the Fund by Greece and Slovenia, which were respectively affected by forest fires in August 2007 and floods in September 2007, total estimates of the damage caused are as follows:

Direct damage: EUR 2 118 273 411 for Greece and EUR 233 395 389 for Slovenia; Aid requested (Greece and Slovenia): EUR 98 023 212.

In the light of the examination of the applications, 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 98 023 212, to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.

The Commission will present a preliminary draft amending budget (PDAB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget specific commitment and payment appropriations, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2095 ).