PURPOSE: to conclude an interinstitutional agreement in order to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to assist Cyprus affected by a severe drought in 2008.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2009/80/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the European Union 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: the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 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.

On the basis of application for assistance from the Fund by Cyprus following drought which culminated in April 2008, total estimates of the damage caused amount to EUR 176 150 000.

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 decided to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund for a total amount of EUR 7 605 445 , to be allocated under heading 3 of the financial framework.

At the same time, an amending budget has been adopted 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/2008/2316 ).

The European Parliament adopted by 559 votes to 14 with 10 abstentions, a resolution approving the Commission’s proposal to mobilise European Union Solidarity Fund to assist Cyprus affected by a severe drought in 2008.

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

According to the draft decision, an amount of EUR 7 605 445 in commitment and payment appropriations shall be mobilised for this cause through an amending budget (AB No 10/2008) (see BUD/2008/2316 ).

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report drafted by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE) and approved the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to assist Cyprus affected by a severe drought in 2008.

According to the draft decision, an amount of EUR 7 605 445 in commitment and payment appropriations shall be mobilised for this cause through an amending budget (AB No 10/2008) (see BUD/2008/2316 ).

PURPOSE: to mobilise the Solidarity Fund to assist Cyprus affected by severe drought in 2008.

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

CONTENT: the Interinstitutional Agreement ( IIA ) of 17 May 2006 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 (please refer to CNS/2002/0228 ).

On the basis of application for assistance from the Fund by Cyprus following drought which culminated in April 2008, total estimates of the damage caused are as follows:

Direct damage : EUR 176 150 000; Aid requested (Cyprus): EUR 7 605 445.

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 7 605 445 , to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.

By presenting this proposal to deploy the Fund, the Commission initiates the simplified trilogue procedure, as required by Point 26 of the Inter-institutional Agreement of 17 May 2006, in view of securing the agreement of the two arms of the Budgetary Authority on the need to use the Fund and the amount required. The Commission invites the first of the two arms of the Budgetary Authority that reaches agreement on the draft mobilisation proposal, at appropriate political level, to inform the other arm and the Commission of its intentions.

In case of disagreement by either of the two arms of the budgetary authority, a formal trilogue meeting will be convened.

The Commission will present a preliminary draft amending budget (PDAB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget specific commitment and payment appropriations, broken down by beneficiary country, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2316 ).

PURPOSE: to mobilise the Solidarity Fund to assist Cyprus affected by severe drought in 2008.

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

CONTENT: the Interinstitutional Agreement ( IIA ) of 17 May 2006 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 (please refer to CNS/2002/0228 ).

On the basis of application for assistance from the Fund by Cyprus following drought which culminated in April 2008, total estimates of the damage caused are as follows:

Direct damage : EUR 176 150 000; Aid requested (Cyprus): EUR 7 605 445.

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 7 605 445 , to be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.

By presenting this proposal to deploy the Fund, the Commission initiates the simplified trilogue procedure, as required by Point 26 of the Inter-institutional Agreement of 17 May 2006, in view of securing the agreement of the two arms of the Budgetary Authority on the need to use the Fund and the amount required. The Commission invites the first of the two arms of the Budgetary Authority that reaches agreement on the draft mobilisation proposal, at appropriate political level, to inform the other arm and the Commission of its intentions.

In case of disagreement by either of the two arms of the budgetary authority, a formal trilogue meeting will be convened.

The Commission will present a preliminary draft amending budget (PDAB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget specific commitment and payment appropriations, broken down by beneficiary country, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2316 ).