COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 10.12.2014 on the constitutive contribution to the European Union Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, "the Madad Fund"

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 10.12.2014 on the constitutive contribution to the European Union Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, "the Madad Fund",

to be financed from the general budget of the European Union EN 2 EN COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 10.12.2014 on the constitutive contribution to the European Union Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, "the Madad Fund",

 to be financed from the general budget of the European Union THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No 236/2014 laying down common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union's instruments for financing external action1 , and in particular Article 2(1) thereof, Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/20022 , and in particular Articles 84(2) and 187 thereof, Having regard to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union3 (hereinafter the “Rules of Application”), and in particular Article 94 thereof, Whereas: (1) The Commission adopted a Decision for the establishment of the European Union Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis (the "Trust Fund") for a duration of 60 months. (2) The overall objective of the Trust Fund is to provide a coherent and reinforced aid response to the Syrian crisis on a regional scale, responding primarily in the first instance to the needs of refugees from Syria in neighbouring countries, as well as of the communities hosting the refugees and their administrations, in particular as regards resilience and early recovery. The Trust Fund will thus focus on current priority needs and may also be adapted to reconstruction needs in a future post-conflict scenario. Assistance inside Syria will be considered taking into account, and avoiding overlap with, the action of other existing international funding instruments. (3) In line with the Council Conclusions on the European Union approach to resilience, activities financed by the Trust Fund shall pursue conflict-sensitive approaches across humanitarian, development and political dialogue and engagement, taking into account the wider root causes of conflict and chronic insecurity and the impact of these factors on the vulnerability of populations, and recognise the complementary roles of development cooperation, humanitarian action and political dialogue and engagement as essential components of building resilience and ensure that efforts to link relief, rehabilitation and development remain integral to such activities. 1 OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 95. 2 OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p.1. 3 OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1. EN 3 EN (4) The Trust Fund will pursue its objectives through the pooling of resources and of the existing but often scattered capacities of donors and agencies to analyse, identify and implement high-impact projects in the region. These pooled capacities will make a direct contribution to the identification of actions that will be presented to all contributors to the Trust Fund as part of a diversified portfolio. (5) This Decision complies with the conditions of Article 94 of the Rules of Application. (6) For the application of this Decision, it is appropriate to define the term "nonsubstantial change" within the meaning of Article 94(4) of the Rules of Application to ensure that any such changes can be adopted by the authorising officer by delegation. (7) The measure provided for in this Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the ENI Committee pursuant to Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council4 , HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 Financial contribution A financial contribution of the European Union to the Union Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis (hereinafter the “Trust Fund”) is set at a maximum amount of EUR 20 000 000 from the budget line 21 03 01 02 of the general budget of the European Union for 2014. Article 2 Implementation modalities The Trust Fund shall implement the contribution either: • directly (i) by the Commission’s departments, including its staff in the Union Delegations under the authority of their respective Head of Delegation, (ii) or through executive agencies; • or indirectly with third countries or the bodies they have designated, international organisations and their agencies, public law bodies or bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that the latter provide adequate financial guarantees. The Constitutive Agreement signed with the donors defines the rules and procedures applying to the management and governance of the Trust Fund. Article 3 Non-substantial changes Increases or decreases of up to EUR 10 000 000 of the contribution of the European Union to the Trust Fund, not exceeding 20% of the contribution referred to in Article 1, or cumulated changes to the allocations of specific actions not exceeding 20% of that contribution shall not be considered substantial, provided that they do not significantly affect the nature and objectives of the actions. 4 Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument, (OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p.27.) EN 4 EN The responsible authorising officer may adopt these non-substantial changes in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and proportionality. Done at Brussels, 10.12.2014 For the Commission Johannes HAHN Member of the Commission