The European Parliament adopted by 608 votes to 15, with 20 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund for the payment of advances to the budget General of the Union for 2018.
Parliament approved the decision annexed to the resolution. This decision aims at entering into the general budget of the Union for 2018 the amount of EUR 50 million in commitment and payment appropriations for the payment of advances in a timely and efficient way in the event of a disaster occurring next year. It shall apply from 1 January 2018.
The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was established to enable the Union to respond in a rapid, efficient and flexible manner to emergency situations in order to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by natural disasters.
As a reminder, Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 provides that, where necessary in order to ensure the timely availability of budgetary resources, the Fund may be mobilised in an amount of up to EUR 50 million for the payment of advances, entering the corresponding appropriations into the general budget of the Union.