Council Decision (EU) 2016/2026 of 15 November 2016 on the financial contributions to be paid by Member States to finance the European Development Fund, including the ceiling for 2018, the annual amount for 2017, the first instalment for 2017 and an indicative and non-binding forecast for the expected annual amounts for the years 2019 and 2020

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000^f1, as last amended (‘ACP-EU Partnership Agreement’),

Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union, meeting within the Council, on the financing of European Union aid under the multiannual financial framework for the period 2014 to 2020, in accordance with the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, and on the allocation of financial assistance for the Overseas Countries and Territories to which Part Four of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union applies^f2 (‘the Internal Agreement’) and in particular Article 7(2) thereof,

Having regard to the Council Regulation (EU) 2015/323 of 2 March 2015 on the financial regulation applicable to the 11th European Development Fund^f3 (‘the 11th EDF Financial Regulation’), and in particular Article 21(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21(2) of the 11th EDF Financial Regulation, the Commission presented a proposal by 15 October 2016 specifying (a) the ceiling for the annual amount of the contribution for 2018; (b) the annual amount of the contribution for 2017; (c) the amount of the first instalment of the contribution for 2017; and (d) an indicative, non-binding forecast for the expected annual amounts of contributions for the years 2019 to 2020.

In accordance with Article 52 of the 11th EDF Financial Regulation, the European Investment Bank (EIB) sent on 28 July 2016 to the Commission its updated estimates of commitments and payments under the instruments it manages.

Article 22(1) of the 11th EDF Financial Regulation provides that calls for contributions first use up the amounts provided for in previous European Development Funds (EDFs). Therefore a call for funds under the 10th EDF should be made.

By means of Decision (EU) 2015/2288^f4, the Council has adopted on the 30 November 2015, on a proposal by the Commission, the Decision to set the ceiling for Member States' EDF contributions for 2017 at EUR 3 850 000 000 for the Commission, and at EUR 150 000 000 for the EIB.

By means of Decision 2013/759/EU,^f5 the Council has adopted the creation of a Bridging Facility on 12 December 2013 regarding transitional EDF management measures from 1 January 2014 until the entry into force of the 11th European Development Fund (‘the Bridging Facility’),

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: