The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the report drafted by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument. The proposal aims to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument in order to finance the CFSP and the European GNSS programmes for a total amount of EUR 270 million. This mobilisation is deemed necessary to the extent that amounts initially allocated did not allow for an adequate financing of Galileo and the CFSP in 2008. The budgetary authority considers it imperative to adequately fund the GNSS Programmes, and increasing needs in CFSP area were of great concern during the preparation of the 2008 Budget, particularly in view of the need to mobilise the necessary resources for the EU mission in Kosovo.

Parliament recalled that the two arms of the budgetary authority decided at the conciliation meeting on 23 November 2007 (see BUD/2007/2019 ) to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the 2008 budget of the European GNSS programmes (EGNOS-GALILEO) for an amount of EUR 200 million, and the CFSP for an amount of EUR 70 million.

Parliament underlined the joint efforts that have safeguarded sufficient resources for new and existing CFSP/ESDP missions, in particular the planned EU Police Mission in Kosovo.It reiterated, however, that external actions in general, and CFSP in particular, are not sufficiently catered for in the long term compared to the demands now identified. Parliament was convinced that CFSP funding suffers from this structural problem and that it merits a multi-annual solution for future years (as proved by the fact that needs for both 2007 and 2008 largely exceed the annual forecasts made at the time of adopting the financial framework). It would therefore welcome proposals from Commission and Council indicating possible ways forward.

The Committee on Budgets unanimously approved the report by Reimer BÖGE (EPP-ED, DE) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument.

It welcomes the agreement reached during the conciliation on the use of the Flexibility Instrument in favour of GNSS Programmes and the CFSP for a total amount of EUR 270 million .

This mobilisation of additional funds was deemed necessary by the budgetary authority as it considers it imperative to adequately fund the GNSS programmes (EGNOS, GALILEO). Furthermore, increasing needs in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) area were also of great concern during the preparation of the 2008 Budget, particularly in view of the need to mobilise the necessary resources for the EU mission in Kosovo.

The two arms of the budgetary authority decided at the conciliation meeting on 23 November 2007 (see BUD/2007/2017 ) to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the 2008 budget of:

- the European GNSS programmes (EGNOS-GALILEO) for an amount of EUR 200 million;

- the CFSP for an amount of EUR 70 million.

Lastly, MEPs highlight the joint efforts that have safeguarded sufficient resources for new and existing CFSP/ESDP missions, in particular the planned EU Police Mission in Kosovo. They stress, however, that external actions in general, and CFSP in particular, are not sufficiently catered for in the long term compared to the demands now identified. They are convinced that CFSP funding suffers from this structural problem and that it merits a multi-annual solution for future years (as proved by the fact that needs for both 2007 and 2008 largely exceed the annual forecasts made at the time of adopting the financial framework). They call on the Commission and the Council to present proposal indicating possible ways forward.

PURPOSE: to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the 2008 budget of EUR 270 million for GALILEO and the CFSP.

CONTENT: the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see ACI/2004/2099 and ACI/2006/2028 ) allows for the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more headings of the multiannual financial framework.

For budget 2008, additional expenditure, beyond the ceilings of sub-heading 1a and heading 4 is required .

It is therefore proposed to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument in accordance with point 27 of the Interinsitutional Agreement.

The amounts to be mobilised are as follows:

EUR 200 million towards the financing of the European GNSS programmes (EGNOS-GALILEO) under article 06 02 10 Galileo Programme in Sub-Heading 1a; EUR 70 million for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, under chapter 19 03 in Heading 4.

PURPOSE: to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument to complement the financing in the 2008 budget of EUR 270 million for GALILEO and the CFSP.

CONTENT: the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (see ACI/2004/2099 and ACI/2006/2028 ) allows for the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to allow the financing of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more headings of the multiannual financial framework.

For budget 2008, additional expenditure, beyond the ceilings of sub-heading 1a and heading 4 is required .

It is therefore proposed to mobilise the Flexibility Instrument in accordance with point 27 of the Interinsitutional Agreement.

The amounts to be mobilised are as follows:

EUR 200 million towards the financing of the European GNSS programmes (EGNOS-GALILEO) under article 06 02 10 Galileo Programme in Sub-Heading 1a; EUR 70 million for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, under chapter 19 03 in Heading 4.