Mobilisation of the Contingency Margin in 2014

PURPOSE: to mobilise the Contingency Margin for 2014.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2015/435 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Contingency Margin.

CONTENT: after having examined all other financial possibilities to react to unforeseen circumstances that have arisen after the multiannual financial framework payment ceiling for 2014 was first established in February 2013, it appears necessary to mobilise the Contingency Margin to complement the payment appropriations in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, above the payment ceiling.

An amount of EUR 350 million in payment appropriations should be included in the mobilisation of the Contingency Margin pending an agreement on payments for other special instruments.

To ensure compliance with Article 13(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013, the Commission should present a proposal on the offsetting of the relevant amount in the MFF payment ceilings for one or more future financial years.

Contingency Margin: for the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, the Contingency Margin shall be used to provide the sum of EUR 3 168 233 715 in payment appropriations over and above the payment ceiling of the multiannual financial framework.

Technically, this mobilisation is characterised by the following elements:

·         the Contingency Margin shall be used to provide the sum of EUR 3 168 233 715 in payment appropriations over and above the payment ceiling of the multiannual financial framework;

·         the sum of EUR 2 818 233 715 shall be offset in three instalments against the margins under the payment ceilings for the following years:

-    2018: EUR 939 411 200,

-    2019: EUR 939 411 200,

-    2020: EUR 939 411 315.

The Commission is invited to present in a timely manner a proposal concerning the remaining amount of EUR 350 million.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 17.12.2014.