Brussels, 04/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The text of the European Commission to pour oil on the troubled waters of the trialogue negotiations on the Solidarity Fund of the European Union (FSEU, EUROPE 11029) apparently failed to win over all parties. A further trialogue is, however, necessary only to conclude the negotiations. The session earlier this week on the same subject was cancelled.
On the basis of the European Commission's copy, adjustments should be made on payment advances, the principle of which could be kept in place, in order to satisfy the requirements of the Council. The eligibility threshold for compensation due to regional disasters on the basis of the GDP of individual regions is still to be discussed, but the Parliament may be prepared to agree for this to be triggered on the basis of the costs resulting from the damage in excess of 1.5% of GDP (compared to 1%). Additional work still needs to be done on this subject to ensure that the isolated or extremely remote regions enjoy an exemption at 1%.
It remains highly likely that a compromise on the reform of the FSEU can be reached in the course of this week, to be approved by the COREPER meeting of 12 March and by the Parliamentary committee on regional development on 19 March. The European Parliament is planning to vote on the new regulation at its April plenary. (MD)