22.3.2013 Official Journal of the European Union L 82/1 (Legislative acts) | DECISIONS DECISION No 258/2013/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 March 2013 amending Decisions No 573/2007/EC and No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decision 2007/435/EC with a view to increasing the co-financing rate of the European Refugee Fund, the European Return Fund and the European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals as regards certain provisions relating to financial management for certain Member States experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 78(2) and Article 79(2) and (4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (1), Whereas: 1 Decision No 573/2007[EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (%) established the European Refugee Fund, Decision No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council () established the European Return Fund and Council Decision 2007/435[EC (*) established the European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals, as part of the General programme ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows. Those Decisions provide for different Union co-financing rates for actions supported by the Funds. The unprecedented global financial crisis and economic downturn have seriously damaged economic growth and financial stability, provoking a marked deterioration in financial, economic and social conditions in several Member States. Some Member States are experiencing serious difficulties or are threatened with such difficulties, particularly with respect to their financial and economic stability, which has led or may lead to deterioration in (") Position of the European Parliament of 6 February 2013 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 25 February 2013. () O] L 144, 6.6.2007, p. 1. () O] L 144, 6.6.2007, p. 45. (4 O] L 168, 28.6.2007, p. 18. their deficit and debt positions and threaten economic growth, and are heightened by the international economic and financial environment. While important actions to counterbalance the negative effects of the crisis have already been taken, the impact of the financial crisis on the real economy, the labour market and society at large is being widely felt. Pressure on national financial resources is increasing and further steps should be taken rapidly to alleviate that pressure through the maximal and optimal use of Union funding. Council Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 of 18 February 2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States’ balances of payments (°) provides that the Council may grant medium-term financial assistance where a Member State which has not adopted the euro is in difficulties or is seriously threatened with difficulties as regards its balance of payments. Romania was granted such financial assistance by Council Decision 2009/459/EC of 6 May 2009 providing Community medium-term financial assistance for Romania (°). In accordance with the conclusions of the Ecofin Council of 9-10 May 2010, the Council adopted a comprehensive package of measures, including Council Regulation (EU) No 407/2010 of 11 May 2010 establishing a European financial stabilisation mechanism (7), and, on 7 June 2010, a European Financial Stability Facility was estab- lished by the euro-area Member States, in order to provide financial support to euro-area Member States in difficulties caused by exceptional circumstances beyond their control, thereby safeguarding the financial stability of the euro area as a whole as well as of its Member States. 53, 23.2.2002, p. 1. oJ L 0] L 150, 13.6.2009, p. 8. oJ L 118, 12.5.2010, p. 1.