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Commission decision of 2.12.2015 financing humanitarian actions in Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic from the 11th European Development Fund (ECHO/-CF/EDF/2015/01000)

Attachments

Brussels, 2.12.2015 C(2015) 8455 final

COMMISSION DECISION of 2.12.2015
financing humanitarian actions in Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic from the 11th European Development Fund
(ECHO/-CF/EDF/2015/01000)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2015/322 of 2 March 2015 on the implementation of the 11th European Development Fund1 and in particular Article 9(3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2015/323 of 2 March 2015 on the financial regulation applicable to the 11th European Development Fund2 and in particular Article 26 thereof,

Whereas:
(1) Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic, highly vulnerable countries facing both acute and protracted humanitarian emergencies, are prone to natural disasters exacerbated by climate change; in these countries, the El Nino phenomenon has recurrently created disruptions on an already narrow rainfall band that strictly determines the timing of farm operations, leading to crop losses and food crises.

(2) In 2015, anomalous rainfall deficits have been recorded over the months April to July, particularly in areas where the most vulnerable and food insecure populations reside; the aggravating effects of this phenomenon on the food and nutrition security of the affected communities require immediate response measures preventing the situation from worsening and building the resilience of the most vulnerable.

(3) In order to sustain the outcomes of the relief, recovery and resilience efforts provided so far by the Commission and by the international community to the affected populations, additional funding is needed to support immediate humanitarian assistance and preparedness measures, notably addressing food and nutrition insecurity, livelihoods, access to basic services and disaster risk reduction.

(4) To reach populations in need, humanitarian aid should be channelled through non- governmental organisations, international organisations including United Nations agencies or directly by the Commission. Where necessary, recourse to Member States' specialised agencies should also be possible. The Commission should therefore implement the budget either by direct management or by indirect management in accordance with Articles 17 and 37 of Regulation (EU) 2015/323 together with Articles 58, 60 and 121 et seq. of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2012/966.

(5) An assessment of the humanitarian situation leads to the conclusion that humanitarian aid actions should be financed by the Union for a period of 18 months.

(6) For the purposes of this Decision, the Central African countries involved are Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

(7) Pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EU) 2015/323 and Article 130 of 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 Union3, and in view of the specific nature of humanitarian aid, expenditure incurred before the date of submission of a proposal for action should be eligible for Union funding.

(8) The use of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) set up by the Internal Agreement4 is necessary as all the funds for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries in the general budget are entirely allocated.

(9) It is estimated that an amount of EUR 20 000 000 from the reserve for unforeseen needs (B-envelope) of the 11th EDF is necessary to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations whose food and nutrition security and livelihooods have been affected by the effects of El Nino. Although as a general rule actions financed by this Decision should be co-financed, the Authorising Officer should be able to agree to the financing of actions in full, in accordance with Articles 2(1) and 37(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/323, together with Article 277 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/20125.

(10) Within 14 days of the adoption of this Decision and in line with Article 14(4) of Regulation (EU) 2015/322, the Commission will submit this Decision to the EDF Committee set up under Article 8 of the 11th EDF Internal Agreement, in order to obtain its opinion,