Mobilisation of the contingency margin 2014

Decision (EU) 2015/435 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2014

Commission's proposal: COM(2014) 328 – 28 May 2014
Council's position: 12 December 2014
Parliament's position: 17 December 2014

Council Regulation 1311/2013 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 2014 , based on Article 6 of the MFF Regulation, the absolute amount of the Contingency Margin for the year 2014 was set at EUR 4 026,7 million.

After having examined all other financial possibilities to react to unforeseen circumstances that have arisen after the multiannual financial framework payment ceiling for 2014 was first established in February 2013, it appears necessary to mobilise the Contingency Margin to complement the payment appropriations in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, above the payment ceiling, so as to complement the payment appropriations related to expenditure in sub-heading 1a, sub-heading 1b, heading 2 and heading 4 in the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, over and above the payment ceiling of EUR 135 866 million for payments.

For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, the Contingency Margin shall be used to provide the sum of EUR 3 168 233 715 in payment appropriations over and above the payment ceiling of the multiannual financial framework.

The sum of EUR 2 818 233 715 shall be offset in three instalments against the margins under the payment ceilings for the following years:

1. 2018: EUR 939 411 200
2. 2019: EUR 939 411 200
3. 2020: EUR 939 411 315

The Commission is invited to present in a timely manner a proposal concerning the remaining amount of EUR 350 million.

Decision (EU) 2017/1331 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2017

Commission's proposal: COM(2016) 607 – 14 September 2016
Council's position: 27 March 2017
Parliament's position: 5 April 2017

By Decision (EU) 2015/435(4), the European Parliament and the Council mobilised the Contingency Margin for making available additional payment appropriations in 2014, to be offset in 2018-2020.

According to the medium-term payment forecast presented in the context of the Mid-Term Review, pressure on the annual payment ceilings in the years 2018-2020 is to be expected.

The draft budget for the year 2017 shows a margin below the payment ceiling of EUR 9,6 billion, allowing for the offsetting of the full amount mobilised in 2014.

Decision (EU) 2015/435 should therefore be amended accordingly.