CHAPTER 2Special instruments
Article 11F1Flexibility Instrument
1
The Flexibility Instrument is intended to allow the financing, for a given financial year, of clearly identified expenditure which could not be financed within the limits of the ceilings available for one or more other headings. Subject to the second subparagraph, there shall be a ceiling on the annual amount available for the Flexibility Instrument of EUR 600 million (2011 prices).
Each year, starting in 2017, the annual amount available for the Flexibility Instrument shall be increased by:
a
an amount equivalent to the portion of the annual amount for the European Union Solidarity Fund which has lapsed in the previous year in accordance with Article 10(1);
b
an amount equivalent to the portion of the annual amount for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund which has lapsed in the previous year.
Amounts made available to the Flexibility Instrument in accordance with the second subparagraph shall be used in accordance with the conditions set out in this Article.
2
The unused portion of the annual amount of the Flexibility Instrument may be used up to year n + 3. The portion of the annual amount stemming from previous years shall be used first, in order of age. That portion of the annual amount from year n which is not used in year n + 3 shall lapse.