DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 18 December 2008

on mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, in accordance with point 26 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management

(2009/80/EC)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management(1), and in particular point 26 thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund(2),

Having regard to the Commission proposal,

Whereas:

(1) The European Union has created a European Union Solidarity Fund (the Fund) to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by disasters.

(2) The Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 allows the mobilisation of the Fund within the annual ceiling of EUR 1 billion.

(3) Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 contains the provisions whereby the Fund may be mobilised.

(4) Cyprus has submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, concerning a disaster caused by drought,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2008, the European Union Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 7 605 445 in commitment and payment appropriations.

Article 2

This Decision shall be published in the

Official Journal of the European Union

Done at Strasbourg, 18 December 2008.

For the European Parliament

The President

H.-G.

PÖTTERING

For the Council

The President

WOERTH

(1)

OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1

(2)

OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3