The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Siegfried MUREŞAN (EPP, RO) on the Council position on Draft amending budget No 1/2018 of the European Union for the financial year 2018 accompanying the proposal to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece, Spain, France and Portugal.
The European Union Solidarity Fund is a special instrument as defined in the MFF Regulation, and the corresponding commitment and payments appropriations are to be budgeted over and above the MFF ceilings.
Draft amending budget No 1/2018 covers the proposed mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece for the earthquakes in Lesbos, to France for the hurricanes in Saint Martin and Guadeloupe, as well as to Portugal and Spain for the forest fires that occurred in Centro and in Galicia in the course of 2017.
The Commission consequently proposed to amend the 2018 budget and to increase budget line 13 06 01 'Assistance to Member States in the event of a major natural disaster with serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the economy' by EUR 97 646 105 both in commitment and payment appropriations.
Members called for the approval of the Council position on Draft amending budget No 1/2018.