C_2019433EN.01021701.xml

P8_TA(2018)0321

Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland

European Parliament resolution of 11 September 2018 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland (COM(2018)0360 – C8-0245/2018 – 2018/2078(BUD))

(2019/C 433/28)

The European Parliament,

—	having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2018)0360 – C8-0245/2018),

—	having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (1),

—	having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (2), and in particular Article 10 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 (3), and in particular point 11 thereof,

—	having regard to the letter from the Committee on Regional Development,

—	having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0272/2018),

Welcomes the decision as a sign of the Union’s solidarity with Union citizens and regions hit by natural disasters;

Stresses the urgent need to release financial assistance through the European Union Solidarity Fund (‘the Fund’) to the regions affected by natural disasters and regrets the number of lives lost in natural disasters in the Union in 2017;

Calls for further optimisation of the mobilisation procedure leading to a shorter application-to-payment time; recalls that quick disbursement to beneficiaries is of major importance to local communities, local authorities and for their trust in the Union's solidarity;

Supports Member States using European structural and investment funds for the reconstruction of the affected regions; invites the Commission to support and rapidly approve the financial reallocation of the partnership agreements requested by Member States to this end;

Calls on Member States to utilise the financial contribution from the Fund in a transparent way, guaranteeing a fair distribution throughout the affected regions;

Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.

(1) OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.

(2) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.

(3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.