In line with the German Presidency’s wish to move quickly, the Council of the European Union is ready to negotiate with the European Parliament on the urgent budgetary aspects that will enable the reinforced EU Civil Protection Mechanism - including its RescEU equipment reserve - to enter into force on 1 January 2021.
This is to enable the EU and its Member States to respond more effectively, efficiently and flexibly to large-scale disasters by drawing lessons from the past and from the management of the new coronavirus crisis.
Agreed by the EU Council Working Party on 1 October, the partial negotiating mandate (‘general approach’) will authorise the German Presidency to negotiate with Parliament on the Commission proposal (amending Decision 1313/2013/EU), in accordance with the European Council agreement of 21 July on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. This mandate will be adopted by the Member States’ Ambassadors to the EU shortly.
In a declaration of 2 October, the EU Council recognises the need to ensure that only measures related to Covid-19 that contribute to solidarity between Member States can be financed by the EU’s recovery instrument.
The EU Council’s position, as seen by EUROPE, focuses on the relevant articles of the proposal.
Thus, the financial envelope for the implementation of the reinforced Civil Protection Mechanism over the period 2021-2027 would be 1.263 billion euros in current prices.
The share financed by the EU’s recovery fund would be capped at 2.056 billion euros.
The EU Council specifies that it will be up to the Commission to ensure a significant allocation of funds for prevention and preparedness actions in order to guarantee continuous investment and the long-term sustainability of actions in these areas of disaster management.
Parliament adopted its position on 16 September (see EUROPE 12561/17). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)