PURPOSE: to conclude an Interinstitutional agreement to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund with a view to giving assistance to Slovakia after it was hit by violent storms in 2004.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2005/706/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund according to point 3 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the financing of the European Union Solidarity Fund.

CONTENT: This decision aims at mobilising up to EUR 5,667,578 with a view to giving assistance to Slovakia after it was hit by violent storms in 2004. These funds will be included in the 2005 budget by means of the amending budget approved on the same day (see BUD/2005/2126).

The European Parliament aqdopted the resolution drafted by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE) and approved the decision to mobilise the Solidarity Fund to provide the sum of EUR 5 667 578 in commitment appropriations from the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2005. (Please see the summary of 28/06/2005.)

Slovakia submitted an application to mobilise the Fund on 24 January 2005, following a disaster caused by a storm in November 2004.

The European Parliament aqdopted the resolution drafted by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE) and approved the decision to mobilise the Solidarity Fund to provide the sum of EUR 5 667 578 in commitment appropriations from the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2005. (Please see the summary of 28/06/2005.)

Slovakia submitted an application to mobilise the Fund on 24 January 2005, following a disaster caused by a storm in November 2004.

The committee adopted the report by Reimer BÖGE ( EPP-ED , DE ) approving the decision to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund. It also called on the Commission to present a concise quantitative assessment of the initial instances of Fund intervention, and particularly the implementation criteria, so that Parliament can evaluate the Fund's operation.

This document consists of a Commission staff working paper on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund in order to give assistance to Slovakia which was affected by violent storms in 2004. The Commission is proposing that EUR 5 667 578 be provided from the Solidarity Fund to be allocated under heading 3 of the financial perspective. The Commission will present an amending budget in order to enter specific commitment appropriations in the 2005 budget, as required by point 4 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 (please refer to BUD/2005/2126).

PURPOSE : to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund with a view to giving assistance to Slovakia after it was hit by violent storms in 2004.

PROPOSED ACT : Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council (Interinstitutional Agreement).

CONTENT : the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 provides for mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund through a flexibility mechanism within an annual ceiling of one billion euros over and above the relevant headings of the financial perspective. The eligibility criteria for the Fund are set out in detail in Council Regulation 2012/2002/EC (refer to procedure reference CNS/2002/0228).

According to the request for assistance from the Fund made by Slovakia, which was hit by a storm, the estimated direct damage totalled: EUR 5 667 578.

After assessing this request, given the maximum possible grant from the Fund as well as the scope for reallocating appropriations under the relevant heading for additional expenditure, the Commission is proposing that EUR 5 667 578 be provided from the Solidarity Fund, to be allocated under heading 3 of the financial perspective.

The Commission will present an amending budget in order to enter specific commitment appropriations in the 2005 budget, as required by point 4 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 (please refer to BUD/2005/2126).

PURPOSE : to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund with a view to giving assistance to Slovakia after it was hit by violent storms in 2004.

PROPOSED ACT : Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council (Interinstitutional Agreement).

CONTENT : the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 provides for mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund through a flexibility mechanism within an annual ceiling of one billion euros over and above the relevant headings of the financial perspective. The eligibility criteria for the Fund are set out in detail in Council Regulation 2012/2002/EC (refer to procedure reference CNS/2002/0228).

According to the request for assistance from the Fund made by Slovakia, which was hit by a storm, the estimated direct damage totalled: EUR 5 667 578.

After assessing this request, given the maximum possible grant from the Fund as well as the scope for reallocating appropriations under the relevant heading for additional expenditure, the Commission is proposing that EUR 5 667 578 be provided from the Solidarity Fund, to be allocated under heading 3 of the financial perspective.

The Commission will present an amending budget in order to enter specific commitment appropriations in the 2005 budget, as required by point 4 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 (please refer to BUD/2005/2126).