THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid1 , and in particular Article 2, Article 4 and Article 15(2) and (3) thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 2013/755/EU of 25 November 2013 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union2 , and in particular Article 79 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 Union3 , and in particular Article 84(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision C(2015) 8936 adopted on 15 December 2015 provides for the financing of humanitarian aid operational priorities from the 2016 general budget of the European Union for a total amount of EUR 930 997 848 from budget articles 23 02 01 and 23 02 02.
(2) The Commission is committed to providing a humanitarian response in those areas where there are the greatest humanitarian needs. Accordingly, the humanitarian response may be subject to reorientation or scaling-up in the course of the implementation of actions when required by changing circumstances in the field which might affect existing humanitarian needs or generate new needs.
(3) The global humanitarian context has been characterised by an increase in humanitarian needs in locations such as Philippines, Fiji, Nigeria, Ukraine, Iran, Syria and neighbouring countries as well as related to the EU Children of Peace Initiative.