Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument: European Fund for Sustainable Development

The European Parliament adopted by 562 votes to 65, with 44 abstentions, the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument to provide the financing for the European Fund for Sustainable Development.

Members approved the proposed decision to use the flexibility instrument to provide the amount of EUR 275 million under Heading 4 of the MFF (Global Europe) in order to finance the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD). In doing so, they stressed the crucial need for the Union budget to be more flexible.

Parliament reiterated its position that:

• the financial resources for external action of the Union are not sufficient to cover the needs of a proactive and sustainable external policy;
• the payments stemming from commitments previously mobilised through the Flexibility Instrument can only be counted over and above the MFF ceilings.