The European Parliament adopted by 532 votes to 89, with 47 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the on-going challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats.

Parliament approved the decision to mobilise the flexibility instrument to supplement the financing available in the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2019:

1) beyond the ceiling of heading 1a of the multiannual financial framework (MFF), by an amount of EUR 178 715 475 in order to strengthen programmes essential to the competitiveness of the European Union, in accordance with the conclusions of the budget trialogue of 4 December 2018;

2) beyond the ceiling of heading 3 by the amount of EUR 985 629 138 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security in accordance with the Commission's proposal to the European Parliament and the Council.

On the basis of the expected payment profile, the payment appropriations corresponding to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument shall be estimated as follows:

- EUR 548 740 834 in 2019;

- EUR 257 223 207 in 2020;

- EUR 135 194 558 in 2021;

- EUR 140 942 662 in 2022;

- EUR 82 243 352 in 2023.

By approving the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument for a total amount of EUR 1 164 344 613 in commitment appropriations, Members reiterated that the mobilisation of this instrument shows, once more, the crucial need for the Union budget to be more flexible. It reiterated its long-standing view that the payments stemming from commitments previously mobilised through the Flexibility Instrument can only be counted over and above the MFF ceilings.

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Daniele VIOTTI (S&D, IT) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the on-going challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament approve the decision to mobilise the flexibility instrument to supplement the financing available in the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2019:

- beyond the ceiling of heading 1a of the multiannual financial framework (MFF), by an amount of EUR 178 715 475 in order to strengthen programmes essential to the competitiveness of the European Union, in accordance with the conclusions of the budget trilogue of 4 December 2018 and;

- beyond the ceiling of heading 3 by the amount of EUR 985 629 138 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security in accordance with the Commission's proposal to the European Parliament and the Council;

- beyond the ceiling of heading 1a of the multiannual financial framework (MFF), by an amount of EUR 178 715 475 in order to strengthen programmes essential to the competitiveness of the European Union, in accordance with the conclusions of the budget trilogue of 4 December 2018 and;

- beyond the ceiling of heading 3 of the MFF, by an amount of EUR 985 629 138 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security, in accordance with the Commission's proposal to the European Parliament and the Council;

By approving the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument for a total amount of EUR 1 164 344 613 in commitment appropriations, Members r eiterated that the mobilisation of this instrument shows, once more, the crucial need for the Union budget to be more flexible.

PURPOSE: to mobilise the flexibility instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the on-going challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats.

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

BACKGROUND: the flexibility instrument is intended to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more other headings under the multiannual financial framework (MFF).

The annual amount available in 2019 is EUR 600 million (2011 prices) corresponding to EUR 703 million in current prices. Moreover, EUR 520 million is available from the unused 2018 portion.

In order to address the ongoing challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats, it is necessary to mobilise significant additional amounts to finance such measures as a matter of urgency.

CONTENT: having examined all possibilities for reallocating appropriations under the expenditure ceilings of heading 3 (Security and citizenship), it is necessary to mobilise the flexibility instrument to supplement the financing available in the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2019 beyond the ceiling of heading 3 by the amount of EUR 985 629 138 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security.

On the basis of the expected payment profile, the payment appropriations corresponding to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument shall be estimated as follows:

- EUR 496 697 300 in 2019;

- EUR 198 761 656 in 2020;

- EUR 118 520 503 in 2021;

- EUR 119 297 639 in 2022;

EUR 52 352 040 in 2023.

The specific amounts of payment appropriations for each financial year shall be authorised in accordance with the annual budgetary procedure.

This Decision shall apply from 1 January 2019.