Brussels, 15/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 15 April, the European Commission adopted two draft amending budgets. The first (number 3/2015) seeks to budget the surplus from 2014, amounting to €1.4 billion, the effect of which will be to reduce the contributions of the member states to the 2015 EU budget by a corresponding amount. The surplus is the result of fines in competition cases and higher amounts than expected in customs duties.
The second (draft amending budget number 4/2015) will make it possible for Bulgaria, Italy and Romania, which were affected by severe weather events in 2014 to receive €66.5 million of EU help under the EU solidarity fund. The aid (€1.98 million for Bulgaria, €56 million for Italy and almost €8.5 million for Romania) seeks to partially cover the emergency costs incurred following the 2014 floods. It will contribute, in particular, to the restoration of infrastructure and essential services, reimbursement of the costs of emergency action and rescue, and covering some of the clean-up costs in the affected regions.
The two draft budgets still have to be adopted by both branches of the budgetary authority (Council and European Parliament). (Lionel Changeur)