Mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund: flooding in Italy, earthquake in Greece, ice storms in Slovenia and Croatia

PURPOSE: to mobilise the Solidarity Fund to assist Italy, Greece, Slovenia and Croatia, which were affected by natural disasters in 2013 and 2014.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2015/436 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2014 on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund.

CONTENT: Council Regulation No 1311/2013 allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, within an annual ceiling of EUR 500 million (2011 prices), over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework.

The conditions of eligibility to the Fund are detailed in the Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, since amending Regulation (EU) 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council may not be applied retroactively.

On the basis of applications from Italy, Greece, Slovenia and Croatia, the calculation of the aid from the Fund, based on the estimate of total damage caused, is as follows:

·         Italy direct damage: EUR 652 418 691 EUR (flooding);

·         Greece direct damage: EUR 147 332 790 (earthquake);

·         Slovenia direct damage: EUR 428 733 722 (storms);

·         Croatia direct damage: EUR 291 904 630 EUR (flooding).

Proposed aid: Italy: EUR 16 310 467; Greece: EUR 3 683 320; Slovenia: EUR 18 388 478; Croatia: EUR 8 616 263.

Total: EUR 46 998 528

The European Parliament and the Council decided to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund for a total amount of EUR 46 998 528 in commitment appropriations for the year 2014.

The same amount of payment appropriations is mobilised under the Funds for the 2015 financial year.

An amending budget (AB) is adopted in parallel in order to enter in the 2014 budget the specific commitments.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 17.12.2014.