PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for 2018.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2018/508 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for 2018.
CONTENT: Council Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, within an annual ceiling of EUR 500 million, over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework. The Fund aims 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.
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 50 000 000 for the payment of advances. With this Decision, the Fund is mobilised in the amount of EUR 50 000 000 for the payment of advances to ensure the timely availability of sufficient budgetary resources in the general budget of the Union for 2018.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 27.3. 2018. In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, the Decision applies from 01.01.2018.