Decision (EU) 2016/1856 on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece

What it is

to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece following the earthquake that affected the Ionian Islands in November 2015. PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council. CONTENT: Council Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-20203, and in particular Article 10 thereof 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. Greece : on 5 February 2016, the Commission received an application for the Fund for financial assistance relating to a disaster in Greece (earthquake affecting the Ionian Islands region, in particular the islands of Lefkada and Kefalonia) which had occurred on 17 November 2015. The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Georgios KYRTSOS (EPP, EL) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund. Members called on the Parliament to approve the decision annexed to the draft resolution. The proposal seeks to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide the amount of EUR 1 651 834 to Greece following an earthquake that affected the Ionian Islands in November 2015. The amount of the mobilisation shall be financed from the appropriations mobilised for the payment of advances in the Union budget for the financial year 2016. The appropriations available for the payment of advances shall be reduced accordingly. The European Parliament adopted by 646 votes to 7, with 23 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund. Parliament approved, without amendment , the decision annexed to this resolution. NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2016/1856 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece. The European Union Solidarity Fund aims to enable the Union to respond in a rapid, efficient and flexible manner to emergency situations in order to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by natural disasters. On the basis of a request from Greece to mobilise the Fund in February 2016 following an earthquake that affected the Ionian Islands in November 2015, it has been decided to mobilise the Funds with a view to providing an overall financial contribution of EUR 1 651 834 for the Greek request. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20.10.2016. The Decision shall apply from 11.10.2016.

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