Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund: assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Siegfried MUREŞAN (EPP, RO) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria.

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 500 000 000 (2011 prices).

Members stressed the urgent need to release financial assistance through the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to the regions affected by natural disasters in the Union in 2018.

The total amount proposed to be mobilised for Romania, Italy and Austria is EUR 293 551 794.

This requires an amendment to the 2019 budget by means of a draft amending budget (DAB 3/2019) that aims at increasing budget line 13 06 01 'Assistance to Member States in the event of a major natural disaster with serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the economy' by the aforementioned amount in both commitment and payment appropriations.

Members approved the proposed decision annexed to this resolution which aims to lead to the rapid mobilisation of the aforementioned amounts, as a sign of European solidarity with the three Member States concerned.