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Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund: assistance to Croatia

2021/0359(BUD)

The European Parliament adopted by 689 votes to 6, with 2 abstentions, a resolution 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 Croatia in relation to the series of earthquakes which started on 28 December 2020.

Parliament approved the decision annexed to the resolution to mobilise an amount of EUR 319 192 359 in commitment and payment appropriations for Croatia under the European Union Solidarity Fund, as part of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2021. This amount includes the payment of EUR 41 325 507 as an advance.

The European Union Solidarity Fund aims to enable the Union to respond rapidly, efficiently and flexibly to emergency situations to express its solidarity with the population of regions affected by major natural or regional disasters or a major public health emergency.

In its resolution, Parliament stressed the urgent need to release financial assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund to ensure that support can reach the affected regions in good time. It regretted the considerable time taken from Croatia’s application for financial assistance, on 18 March 2021 to the Commission proposal for mobilisation at the end of October 2021. It underlined, again, the importance of rapid mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund in the future to provide relief to people and regions in need.

Recalling that the Solidarity Fund has bene under considerable strain in the first year of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Parliament expressed its concern about the dwindling resources available under the Fund for the period 2021-2027. Stressing that the overall amount of funding and the overall funding amount and allocation arrangements for the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) do not ensure optimal effectiveness of the EUSF, Members called for a revision of the SEAR at the next review of the MFF 2021-2027.