Amending budget 7/2011: mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for Spain and Italy

The European Parliament adopted by 677 votes to 15, with 7 abstentions, a resolution approving, unamended, the Council position on Draft amending budget No 7/2011.

Parliament recalls that this Draft amending budget aims at mobilising the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for an amount of EUR 38 million in commitment and payment appropriations in order to mitigate the effects of the earthquake that hit Murcia, Spain, and of the flooding in the Veneto region, Italy.

Parliament calls for a quick release of financial assistance through the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) and it is greatly concerned, in the case of flooding in the Veneto region, by the fact that the mobilisation of EUSF will only be effective 13 months after the torrential rainfall occurring at the end of October 2010.

Members call on all involved parties in the Member States, i.e. both at local and regional level, and national authorities, to improve assessment of needs and the coordination for future potential applications to the EUSF in a view to accelerate, as much as possible, the mobilisation of the EUSF.