Brussels, 22/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 19 June, the Council adopted its position on draft amending budget No 5 to the general EU budget for 2015, which relates to measures to respond to migratory pressures.
The aim of this draft budget is to strengthen the resources available to the EU to manage migratory flows and the influx of refugees following recent events in Southern Mediterranean countries: it makes provision for additional resources for the Frontex Agency, the asylum, migration and integration fund and the internal security fund.
Additional resources worth €89 million in commitment appropriations and €76.6 million in payments will be made available to meet the additional needs of migration management measures. Since part of this support can be financed from unused funds in other areas the additional financing burden is limited to €75.8 million in commitments and no fresh payments are needed.
Surplus. The Council also adopted its position on draft amending budget No 3 to the 2015 budget to incorporate the 2014 budget surplus into the revenue side of the EU budget for 2015: €1.43 billion. Incorporation of this surplus will reduce the overall contribution by member states to the 2015 EU budget by a corresponding amount.
Solidarity. Lastly, the Council adopted its position on draft amending budget No 4 to the 2015 budget. This increases the 2015 EU budget by €66.5 million in commitments and payments for the EU solidarity fund to deal with the damage caused by floods in Romania, Bulgaria and Italy between April and November 2014.
The European Parliament is expected to vote on the three draft amending budgets at its plenary session starting in Strasbourg on 6 July 2015. (Lionel Changeur)