Strasbourg, 07/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Tuesday 7 July, the European Parliament approved draft amending budget no. 5 to the 2015 budget, laying down measures to deal with migratory pressure (see EUROPE 11341 and 11340).
Additional funds will be granted to the agency Frontex, out of the 'asylum, migration and integration' fund and the fund for internal security. The amount of €89 million in commitment appropriations and €76.6 million in payment appropriations has been earmarked to pay for additional needs in terms of migration measures. As some of this money can be paid for out of unused funds, the real financial burden is €75.8 million in commitments and no fresh money has had to be found.
Surplus. The EP also approved draft amending budget no. 3 to the general 2015 budget regarding the budgetisation of the 2014 surplus of €1.4 billion. The budgetisation of this surplus will reduce the overall contribution of the member states to the financing of the EU budget for 2015 by the same amount.
Solidarity. Draft amending budget no. 4 has also been approved. This relates to the action of the EU Solidarity Fund, for a total of €66.5 million in commitment appropriations and payments. The aim is to provide financial assistance to Romania, Bulgaria and Italy following the flooding which occurred between April and November 2014.
EFSI. Lastly, the EP gave its approval to draft amending budget no. 1 to the 2015 budget, which will transfer €1.36 billion in commitment appropriations and €10 million in payment appropriations to a budgetary line set up to feed into the guarantee fund of the Juncker plan. (Lionel Changeur)