Date: 2016-10-20Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision (EU) 2016/1856 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 October 2016 on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece
Executive Summary:
This decision concerns the mobilization of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide financial assistance to Greece following the earthquake that affected the Ionian Islands in November 2015. A total of EUR 1,651,834 in commitment and payment appropriations will be provided to Greece. This amount will be financed through the reallocation of appropriations available for advance payments in the Union's 2016 budget. The decision is effective from October 11, 2016.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Fund Mobilization:** The European Union Solidarity Fund (the Fund) is mobilized to provide assistance to Greece following an earthquake in the Ionian Islands in November 2015.
* **Financial Contribution:** Greece will receive EUR 1,651,834 in commitment and payment appropriations.
* **Funding Source:** The funding will come from appropriations already allocated for advance payments in the Union budget for the financial year 2016.
* **Budget Adjustment:** The appropriations available for advance payments in the 2016 Union budget will be reduced accordingly.
* **Effective Date:** This decision is effective from October 11, 2016, the date of its adoption.
Impact Analysis:
* **Greece:**
* Impact: Receives financial assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund to help recover from the earthquake damage in the Ionian Islands.
* Action Required: Utilize the funds according to the regulations of the European Union Solidarity Fund.
* **European Parliament and Council:**
* Impact: Formally adopted the decision to mobilize the Fund and provide financial assistance to Greece.
* Action Required: Monitor the implementation of the decision and ensure the appropriate allocation of funds.
* **European Commission:**
* Impact: Responsible for proposing the mobilization of the Fund and managing the financial contribution to Greece.
* Action Required: Implement the decision by reallocating appropriations within the 2016 Union budget and overseeing the disbursement of funds to Greece.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union Solidarity Fund: A fund established to enable the Union to respond rapidly and efficiently to emergency situations and show solidarity with regions struck by natural disasters.
Greece: The recipient country of financial assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund following an earthquake in the Ionian Islands.
European Parliament: One of the legislative bodies of the European Union, involved in the decision-making process for mobilizing the European Union Solidarity Fund.
Council of the European Union: One of the legislative bodies of the European Union, involved in the decision-making process for mobilizing the European Union Solidarity Fund.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: A treaty that forms the constitutional basis of the European Union.
Council Regulation EC No 2012/2002: A Council Regulation establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund.
Ionian Islands: A region in Greece that was affected by an earthquake, triggering the application for assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund.
Brussels: The city where the decision to mobilize the European Union Solidarity Fund was adopted.
20.10.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 284/21
DECISIONS
DECISION (EU) 2016/1856 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 11 October 2016
on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union
Solidarity Fund (1), and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,
Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council
and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial
management (2), and in particular point 11 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The European Union Solidarity Fund (‘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.
(2) The Fund is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 500 000 000 (2011 prices), as laid down in
Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (3).
(3) On 5 February 2016, Greece submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following an earthquake that
affected the Ionian Islands in November 2015.
(4) The application by Greece meets the conditions for providing a financial contribution from the Fund, as laid
down in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002.
(5) The Fund should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution to Greece.
(6) By Decision (EU) 2016/252 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) the European Union Solidarity
Fund was mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 50 million in commitment and payment appropriations for the
payment of advances for the financial year 2016. Those appropriations have only been used to a very limited
extent. Consequently, there is scope for financing the full amount for the present mobilisation through the
reallocation of appropriations available for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for the
financial year 2016.
(7) In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, this Decision should apply from the date of its
adoption,
(1) OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.
(2) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.
(3) Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years
2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).
(4) Decision (EU) 2016/252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on the mobilisation of the European
Union Solidarity Fund for the payment of advances (OJ L 47, 24.2.2016, p. 5).L 284/22 EN Official Journal of the European Union 20.10.2016
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2016, the European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised
to provide the amount of EUR 1 651 834 to Greece, in commitment and payment appropriations.
The amount of the mobilisation referred to in the first paragraph shall be financed from the appropriations mobilised
for the payment of advances in the Union budget for the financial year 2016. The appropriations available for the
payment of advances shall be reduced accordingly.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 11 October 2016.
Done at Brussels, 11 October 2016.
For the European Parliament For the Council
The President The President
M. SCHULZ I. KORČOK