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Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund: earthquakes in Italy in 2016 and 2017

2017/2101(BUD)

PURPOSE: to mobilise the Solidarity Fund to assist Italy, following a series of earthquakes that hit the country in 2016 and 2017.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2017/1599 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Italy.

CONTENT: with the present decision, the European Parliament and the Council decided to mobilise EUR 1 196 797 579 in commitment and payment appropriations for Italy under the 2017 budget under the EU Solidarity Fund.

The amount is granted in response to Italy’s application submitted on 16 November 2016 following an earthquake that affected the regions of Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche and Umbria on 24 August 2016. Additional earthquakes struck the previously hit areas and significantly increased the level of previously reported damage.

Italy then submitted its final application on 15 February 2017 with revised estimates including all damage caused between 24 August 2016 and 18 January 2017.

Since the amount that may be mobilised for 2017 is not sufficient to cover the full contribution, the difference should exceptionally be financed through the annual amount available for 2018 as provided for in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the legal framework applicable to the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020.

As a reminder, the European Union Solidarity Fund aims to enable the Union to respond in a rapid, efficient and flexible manner to emergency situations in order to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by natural disasters.

The Fund is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 500 million (2011 prices). The entire 2016 allocation remained unspent, was carried over to the following year, and was partially used in April 2017. The 2017 allocation was not yet drawn on.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 23.9.2017. In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, this Decision should apply from the date of its adoption (13.9.2017).