Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument: European neighbourhood policy

2011/2126(BUD)

The European Parliament adopted by 524 votes to 59, with 10 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument in favour of the EU 2020 Strategy and the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The ceilings of the Multiannual Financial Framework, especially for subheading 1a and heading 4, do not allow the financing of Union priorities without jeopardising the existing instruments and policies.

Initially, the Commission had proposed in Amending letter No 1/2012 to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to offset the reinforcement for the European Neighbourhood Policy under heading 4 for an amount of EUR 153 343 576. The conciliation committee convened for the 2012 budget agreed to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for a total amount of EUR 200 million beyond the ceilings of subheading1a and heading 4.

Parliament agrees, therefore, to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for the financing of the EU 2020 Strategy under subheading 1a, and the financing of the European Neighbourhood Policy under heading 4 for a total amount of EUR 200 million. This amount shall be used to complement the financing of:

·         EUR 50 million for the Europe 2020 Strategy under subheading 1a;

·         EUR 150 million for the European Neighbourhood Policy under heading 4.

To conclude, Parliament highlights once more the crucial need for the EU budget to be increasingly flexible.