Decision (EU) 2020/264 on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for 2020

What it is

to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to provide for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for 2020. 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 2014-2020, and in particular the 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. The conditions of eligibility to the Fund are detailed in the Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, which foresees that an amount of up to a maximum of EUR 50 million in both commitment and payment appropriations shall be included in the budget for the payment of advances. The Commission shall include these amounts in the Draft Budget 2020. The European Parliament adopted by 656 votes to 21, with 19 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 to provide for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for 2020. Parliament approved the decision annexed to the resolution which seeks to mobilise EUR 50 000 000 in commitment and payment appropriations for the payment of advances in order to ensure the timely availability of sufficient budgetary resources in the general budget of the Union for 2020. NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2020/264 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for 2020. The 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. Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 provides that, where necessary in order to ensure the timely availability of budgetary resources, the Fund may be mobilised in an amount of up to EUR 50 000 000 for the payment of advances. With this Decision, the European Parliament and the Council mobilised the sum of EUR 50 million in commitment and payment appropriations from the European Union Solidarity Fund for the payment of advances under the 2020 budget. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 28.2.2020. In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, this Decision shall apply from 1.1.2020.

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