The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Contingency Margin in 2016.
As a reminder, Article 13 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 established a Contingency Margin of up to 0.03 % of the Gross National Income of the Union. In accordance with that Regulation, the Commission calculated the absolute amount of the Contingency Margin for 2016.
After having examined all other financial possibilities to react to unforeseen circumstances within the 2016 commitment ceiling for heading 3 (Security and citizenship) of the multiannual financial framework, and after having mobilised the Flexibility Instrument for the full amount of EUR 1 530 million available in 2016, it appeared necessary to mobilise the Contingency Margin to address the needs stemming from the migration, refugee and security crisis, by increasing the commitment appropriations in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, above the commitment ceiling of heading 3.
As a result, the Commission proposed, together with Draft amending budget No 4/2016, to mobilise the Contingency Margin for 2016 for an amount of EUR 240.1 million so as to complement the commitment appropriations related to expenditure in heading 3 ‘Security and citizenship’ in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016.
Members called on the European Parliament to approve the decision annexed to this resolution.