Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Contingency Margin in 2017

The Council Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (‘MFF Regulation’) allows for the mobilisation of the Contingency Margin of up to 0.03% of Gross National Income for the EU-28 to react to unforeseen circumstances as a last resort instrument. In the technical adjustment of the MFF for 2017, based on Article 6 of the MFF Regulation, the absolute amount of the Contingency Margin for the year 2017 is set at €4,496.8 million.

In accordance with Article 13 of the MFF Regulation, and after having examined all possibilities for financing additional and unforeseen commitment needs, the Commission proposes to mobilise the Contingency Margin for 2017 for an amount of €1,164.4 million so as to complement the commitment appropriations related to expenditure in heading 3 in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, over and above the commitment ceiling of €2,578 million in current prices.

In accordance with point 14 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, the Commission has carried out an analysis of the possibility to reallocate significant amounts within the existing budget.

In accordance with Article 13(3) of the MFF Regulation the Commission proposes to offset the reinforcement of the expenditure ceiling of heading 3 as follows: €650 million against the unallocated margin available under the expenditure ceiling of heading 2 and €514.4 million against the unallocated margin available in heading 5 in 2017.

See also:
- Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament. Technical adjustment of the financial framework for 2017 in line with movements in GNI and adjustment of cohesion policy envelopes
- Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide for the payment of advances in the general budget of the Union for 2017
- Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument to finance immediate budgetary measures to address the on-going migration, refugee and security crisi

EUR-Lex: COM(2016)314: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2016:314:FIN

ESO: Background information: Draft EU Budget 2017: Commission proposes a budget focused on priorities - growth, jobs and a solid response to the refugee crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/draft-eu-budget-2017-commission-proposes-a-budget-focused-on-priorities-growth-jobs-and-a-solid-response-to-the-refugee-crisis/

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