Amending budget 1/2011: mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund; flooding in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia and Romania

The European Parliament adopted by 591 votes to 22, with 53 abstentions, a resolution approving, without amendment, the Council’s position on Draft amending budget (DAB) No 1/2011 of the European Union for the financial year 2011, Section III – Commission.

Parliament recalls that this DAB aims at mobilising the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 182.4 million in commitment and payment appropriations in order to mitigate the effects of flooding resulting from heavy rainfall in Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Romania. The purpose of this Draft amending budget No 1/2011 is to formally enter this budgetary adjustment into the 2011 budget.

In parallel, Parliament recalls that the Council has decided to establish a ‘negative reserve’ as provided for by Article 44 of the Financial Regulation. It states that this Council's decision is only pragmatic. It does not provide sustainable and financially sound solution for potential future unforeseen needs, and should therefore be considered as a one-off option. It states that the Council called on the Commission to present ‘as soon as possible’ a proposal for drawing upon the negative reserve.

In this context, Parliament considers that the forthcoming Draft amending budget on the budgeting of the surplus for the financial year 2010 will provide a suitable and timely opportunity for drawing upon the negative reserve.

Parliament takes note of Draft amending budget No 1/2011. It is of the opinion that the EU Solidarity Fund should be mobilised as swiftly as possible following a natural catastrophe, and that applications for financial assistance, evaluation and drafting of the proposals, and adoption of relevant budgetary and legislative acts should be dealt with in an effective and fast-acting manner.