PURPOSE: final adoption of amending budget 7/2009.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: 2009/802/EC, Euratom.

CONTENT: the European Parliament has adopted amending budget No 7 to the European Union for the financial year 2009 in accordance with its resolution of 15 September (please refer to the summary of the resolution).

This amending budget shall cover the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 109.4 million in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the effects of the storm (Klaus) that hit south-west France in January 2009.

The European Parliament adopted by 605 votes to 23, with 14 abstentions, the draft amending budget No 7/2009 of the European Union for the financial year 2009.

Parliament recalls that it shall cover the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 109.4 million in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the effects of the storm that hit France in January 2009.

On 22 June 2009, the Commission forwarded to the Council preliminary draft amending budget (PDAB) No. 7 to the general budget for 2009, relating to the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 109 377 165 for France, following the major storm ("Klaus") which hit the south-western part of the country in January 2009.

This mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund will have a net effect on the budget, entailing an increase of EUR 109 377 165, in both commitment and payment appropriations, in Article 13 06 01 (EU Solidarity Fund - Member States).

At the simplified trilogue provided for in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006, an agreement was reached on the mobilisation of the Fund and on the amount proposed by the Commission.

On 7 September 2009, the Council established draft amending budget No. 7 for the financial year 2009, as submitted by the Commission in its preliminary draft amending budget No. 7 and as set out in the technical annex to the explanatory memorandum of this text (see Council Doc. 12951/09 ADD 1 ).

On 22 June 2009, the Commission forwarded to the Council preliminary draft amending budget (PDAB) No. 7 to the general budget for 2009, relating to the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 109 377 165 for France, following the major storm ("Klaus") which hit the south-western part of the country in January 2009.

This mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund will have a net effect on the budget, entailing an increase of EUR 109 377 165, in both commitment and payment appropriations, in Article 13 06 01 (EU Solidarity Fund - Member States).

At the simplified trilogue provided for in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006, an agreement was reached on the mobilisation of the Fund and on the amount proposed by the Commission.

On 7 September 2009, the Council established draft amending budget No. 7 for the financial year 2009, as submitted by the Commission in its preliminary draft amending budget No. 7 and as set out in the technical annex to the explanatory memorandum of this text (see Council Doc. 12951/09 ADD 1 ).

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report drawn up by Jutta HAUG (S-D, DE) approving the draft amending budget No 7/2009 of the European Union for the financial year 2009, recalling that it shall cover the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 109.4 million in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the effects of the storm that hit France in January 2009.

PURPOSE: to present the Preliminary Draft Amending Budget (PDAB) No 7 to the 2009 budget to financially assist France following a major storm (Klaus) in January 2009 which caused severe damage.

CONTENT: PDAB 7/2009 covers the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 109 377 165 in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the effects of a storm affecting south-west France.

Overview : in January 2009 a major storm ("Klaus") hit France causing severe damage. Within the 10 week deadline set by Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, the French authorities applied for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund relating to the storm.

The Commission services carried out a thorough examination of the application and proposed that the application made by France relating to the storm in January 2009 be accepted as a “major disaster” and that the Solidarity Fund should be used.

Financing : the total annual budget available for the Solidarity Fund is EUR 1 billion. In 2009, EUR 11.8 million have already been earmarked for an earlier application leaving EUR 988.2 million available.

Consequently, the Commission proposes to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund for amount of EUR 109 377 165 .

PURPOSE: to present the Preliminary Draft Amending Budget (PDAB) No 7 to the 2009 budget to financially assist France following a major storm (Klaus) in January 2009 which caused severe damage.

CONTENT: PDAB 7/2009 covers the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 109 377 165 in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the effects of a storm affecting south-west France.

Overview : in January 2009 a major storm ("Klaus") hit France causing severe damage. Within the 10 week deadline set by Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, the French authorities applied for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund relating to the storm.

The Commission services carried out a thorough examination of the application and proposed that the application made by France relating to the storm in January 2009 be accepted as a “major disaster” and that the Solidarity Fund should be used.

Financing : the total annual budget available for the Solidarity Fund is EUR 1 billion. In 2009, EUR 11.8 million have already been earmarked for an earlier application leaving EUR 988.2 million available.

Consequently, the Commission proposes to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund for amount of EUR 109 377 165 .