The Council adopted its position on draft amending budget No 4 to the general budget 2020 accompanying the proposal to mobilise the EU solidarity fund to assist Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria.
On 30 April 2020, the Commission submitted to the Council draft amending budget (DAB) No 4 to the general budget for 2020 regarding the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for a total amount of EUR 278.99 million in commitment and payment appropriations.
The objective of this proposal is to finance the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria following natural disasters that took place in these Member States in the course of 2019.
The corresponding appropriations are to be recorded under Article 13 06 01 (EU Solidarity Fund - Assistance to Member States in the event of a major natural disaster with serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the economy), after having deducted the advances already paid out to Portugal and Spain (EUR 6.50 million).
As regards article 13 06 01 of the 2020 budget, the new amount amounts to EUR 322 498 208 in commitment and payment appropriations.
It is recalled that this article is intended to record appropriations resulting from the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund in the event of major or regional disasters in the Member States. Assistance
should be provided in connection with natural disasters to the Member States concerned, with a deadline being laid down for use of the financial assistance awarded and provision being made for beneficiary Member States to substantiate the use made of the assistance they receive.
Assistance received which is subsequently offset by third-party payments or received in excess of the final valuation of damage should be recovered.