Decision (EU) 2015/1872 on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund

What it is

to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to assist Bulgaria and Greece hit by disasters in 2015. CONTENT : Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) N° 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, within an annual ceiling of EUR 500 million (2011 prices), over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework. 1) Bulgaria : at the end of January and during early February 2015 major parts of Bulgaria suffered from heavy rainfall, snow, floods and landslides which caused considerable damage to public infrastructure, businesses, private homes and assets , and harmed the agricultural sector. The Commission considered that the different disastrous events in Bulgaria have a common meteorological cause of natural origin and therefore fall within the field of application of the EUSF. The Bulgarian authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at EUR 243.305 million. This represents 0.622 % of Bulgaria’s GNI or 103.6 % of the “major disaster” threshold of EUR 234.871 million applicable to Bulgaria in 2015 for mobilising the EUSF. As the estimated total direct damage exceeds the threshold the disaster qualifies as a “major natural disaster”. The Committee on Budgets adopted the report Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, in accordance with point 11 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (disasters in Bulgaria and Greece in 2015). The proposed decision aims to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide the sum of EUR 16 274 765 in commitment and payment appropriations to assist Bulgaria and Greece hit by disasters in 2015. The full amount of this mobilisation shall be financed using the appropriations mobilised by Decision (EU) 2015/422 of the European Parliament and of the Council for the payment of advances in the Union budget for the financial year 2015, available on budget line 13 06 01. The amount available on that budget line for advances shall be reduced accordingly. The European Parliament adopted by 660 votes to 34 (without any abstentions) a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, in accordance with point 11 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (disasters in Bulgaria and Greece in 2015). The proposed decision, approved unamended, aims to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide the sum of EUR 16 274 765 in commitment and payment appropriations to assist Bulgaria and Greece hit by disasters in 2015. PURPOSE: to mobilise the Solidarity Fund to assist Bulgaria and Greece which were affected by disasters in 2015. NON-LEGISLATIVE…

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