PURPOSE: presentation of a draft amending budget (DAB) No 1/2018 accompanying the proposal to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece, Spain, France, the United Kingdom Portugal.

CONTENT: draft amending budget (DAB) No 1 for the year 2018, presented by the Commission accompanies the proposal to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for an amount of EUR 104 166 951 to provide assistance to Greece for the earthquakes in Lesbos, to France for the hurricanes in Saint Martin and Guadeloupe, as well as to Portugal and Spain for the forest fires that occurred in Centro and in Galicia in the course of 2017.

DAB No 1/2018 proposes to enter the necessary appropriations in the general budget 2018, both in commitments and payments, after having deducted the advances already paid out to Greece, France and Portugal (EUR 6 520 846).

In accordance with the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) regulation, the total amount available for the mobilisation of the EUSF at the beginning of 2018 was EUR 421 142 057. The amount that may be mobilised at this stage of the year 2018 is EUR 277 556 348.

Considering the amount of EUR 6 520 846 that was already paid for these EUSF cases as advance, the Commission proposes to amend the 2018 budget by increasing budget line 13 06 01 'Assistance to Member States in the event of a major natural disaster with serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the economy' by EUR 97 646 105 both in commitment and payment appropriations.