PURPOSE: to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund with respect to Martinique and Guadeloupe following the hurricane "Dean" in August 2007.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2008/879/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 2008 on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund in accordance with point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management.
CONTENT: this Decision provides that the European Union Solidarity Fund will be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 12 780 000 in commitment and payment appropriations for the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2008. France submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, concerning a disaster caused by hurricane ‘Dean’ which affected Martinique and Guadeloupe in August 2007. This will be allocated under heading 3b of the financial framework.
The Commission will present an amending budget (AB) in order to enter in the 2008 budget the specific commitment and payment appropriations, as requested in Point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see BUD/2008/2252).
The European Union has created the EU Solidarity Fund to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by disasters. The Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion.