Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument: competitiveness, migration, refugee inflows and security threats

2018/2274(BUD)

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Daniele VIOTTI (S&D, IT) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the on-going challenges of migration, refugee inflows and security threats.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament approve the decision to mobilise the flexibility instrument to supplement the financing available in the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2019:

- beyond the ceiling of heading 1a of the multiannual financial framework (MFF), by an amount of EUR 178 715 475 in order to strengthen programmes essential to the competitiveness of the European Union, in accordance with the conclusions of the budget trilogue of 4 December 2018 and;

- beyond the ceiling of heading 3 by the amount of EUR 985 629 138 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security in accordance with the Commission's proposal to the European Parliament and the Council;

- beyond the ceiling of heading 1a of the multiannual financial framework (MFF), by an amount of EUR 178 715 475 in order to strengthen programmes essential to the competitiveness of the European Union, in accordance with the conclusions of the budget trilogue of 4 December 2018 and;

- beyond the ceiling of heading 3 of the MFF, by an amount of EUR 985 629 138 to finance measures in the field of migration, refugees and security, in accordance with the Commission's proposal to the European Parliament and the Council;

By approving the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument for a total amount of EUR 1 164 344 613 in commitment appropriations, Members reiterated that the mobilisation of this instrument shows, once more, the crucial need for the Union budget to be more flexible.