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#EUBudget: 2015 surplus should go to refugee Trust Funds say EPP MEPs

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ThinkstockPhotos-476248942The Budgets Committee will vote today (15 June) on the Draft Amending Budget 2 (DAB 2/2016) which reduces member states' contributions to the 2016 EU budget thanks to a €1.3 billion surplus from 2015.

The EPP Group Rapporteur José Manuel Fernandes MEP said: “Member states must use the opportunity of this reflow to honour their pledges in relation to the refugee crisis and to match the Union's contribution to the two dedicated Union Trust Funds.”

In September 2015, member states promised to contribute the same amount as the EU to the two EU Trust Funds. The EU kept its word and contributed the expected €1.8bn to the Africa Trust Fund and more than €500 million to the Madad Trust Fund. Member states pledged to do the same, however, so far, they have only contributed €82m to the Africa Trust Fund and €69m to the Madad Trust Fund on the Syrian crisis.

“Member states’ contributions to the Trust Funds are short by more than €2.1bn. If member states used the €1.3bn surplus from 2015 to strengthen the Trust Funds, it would send out a much-needed signal that we are united and committed to finding a solution to a crisis that affects us all,” concluded Fernandes.

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