Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument: migration, refugee inflows and security threats; immediate measures in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak; reinforcement of the European Public Prosecutor's Office

2020/2053(BUD)

PURPOSE: to adopt the Decision to amend Decision (EU) 2020/265 as regards adjustments to the amounts mobilised from the Flexibility Instrument for 2020 to be used for migration, refugee inflows and security threats, for immediate measures in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak and for reinforcement of the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2020/545 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak and a reinforcement of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

CONTENT: following the agreement between the European Parliament and the Council, this Decision to adjust the amounts mobilised from the Flexibility Instrument has been adopted. The Flexibility Instrument is intended to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more other headings.

The ceiling on the annual amount available for the Flexibility Instrument is EUR 600 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013, increased, where applicable, by lapsed amounts made available.

In order to address the challenges in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, the mobilisation of the appropriate amounts is a matter of urgency.

For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2020, the Flexibility Instrument shall be mobilised to provide the amount of EUR 73.3 million in commitment appropriations in heading 3 (Security and citizenship).

This amount shall be used to finance immediate measures in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak and for reinforcement of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Based on the expected payment profile, the payment appropriations corresponding to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument shall be estimated as follows:

- EUR 43 300 000 in 2020;

- EUR 30 000 000 in 2021.

The specific amounts of payment appropriations for each financial year shall be authorised in accordance with the annual budgetary procedure.

This Decision is linked to financing included in Amending budget No 1 to the general budget of the European Union for 2020. In order to ensure coherence with that amending budget, this Decision shall apply from the date of its adoption.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21.4.2020. It shall apply from 17.4.2020.