The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Henrike HAHN (Greens/EFA, DE) on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Greece further to natural disasters that took place in these countries in the course of 2021.

Members called on the Parliament to approve the decision annexed to the draft resolution.

The Commission proposal seeks to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to grant financial assistance for a global amount of EUR 718 482 761 relating to natural disasters that took place in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Greece in the course of 2021.

The report proposed that for the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2021, the European Union Solidarity Fund should be mobilised as follows in commitment and payment appropriations in relation to natural disasters:

For the flooding :

- EUR 612 611 256 to Germany;

- EUR 87 737 427 to Belgium;

- EUR 4 713 027 to the Netherlands;

- EUR 797 520 to Austria;

- EUR 1 822 056 to Luxembourg.

For the volcano :

- EUR 9 449 589 to Spain (La Palma).

For the earthquake :

- EUR 1 351 886 to Greece (Crete).

Members stressed the urgent need to release financial assistance through the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to ensure that support can reach the affected regions in a timely manner. They regretted at the same time that the maximum amount available for this EUSF mobilisation is much lower than the potential aid amount that could be needed and comes more than a year after the events took place due to the inflexible mobilisation rules of the EUSF. They called on the Commission to explore further possibilities for additional funding.

The committee reiterated its concern about the decision to merge the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR) and the EUSF in the current MFF, which has led to serious shortcomings, and significantly reduced the overall funding available. It considers that the available resources for EUSF should be substantially increased and made available in a more timely manner as part of the ambitious multiannual financial framework revision.

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Union solidarity fund to assist Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Greece following natural disasters that took place in these countries in the course of 2021.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: 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 major or regional natural disasters or major public health emergency.

This proposed decision covers the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for an amount of EUR 718 482 761 to provide assistance to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Greece following natural disasters that took place in these countries in the course of 2021.

Between 12 and 15 July 2021, a slow-moving low-pressure system named ‘Bernd’ passed over Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Austria causing heavy rainfall and flooding. Whereas, Spain was hit by a volcanic eruption on the Island of La Palma and Crete, Greece, was hit by an earthquake, both causing substantial damage.

Severe flooding

In October 2021, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg respectively submitted applications for estimated total direct damage of:

- EUR 29.21 billion;

- EUR 5.56 billion;

- EUR 500 million;

- EUR 84.6 million;

- EUR 193.3 million.

Volcanic eruption and earthquake

For Spain and Greece, they submitted respective applications for an estimated total direct damage of:

- EUR 1 billion (the Commission awarded an advance of EUR 5 391 796);

- EUR 143.42 million (the Commission awarded an advance of EUR 896 375 to Greece).

Conclusion

The Commission considers that the applications of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Greece fulfil the conditions for a financial contribution from the Fund as set out in Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002. It therefore proposes to mobilise the EUSF within the framework of the general budget of the Union for the 2021 financial year, in order to grant the amount of:

- EUR 612 611 256 to Germany in relation to the floods of 2021;

- EUR 87 737 427 to Belgium in relation to the floods of 2021;

- EUR 4 713 027 to the Netherlands in relation to the floods of 2021;

- EUR 797 520 to Austria in relation to the floods of 2021;

- EUR 1 822 056 to Luxembourg in relation to the floods of 2021;

- EUR 9 449 589 to Spain in relation to the volcano eruption in La Palma;

- EUR 1 351 886 to Greece in relation to the earthquake in Crete.

This mobilisation is accompanied by DEC No 20/2022 that proposes to transfer the amount of EUR 668 482 761 from the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) reserve line to the EUSF operational budget line, both in commitments and payments.

In addition to the transferred appropriations from the SEAR reserve line, this mobilisation will be financed through the use of the amount of EUR 50 million in commitment and payment appropriations already inscribed in the General Budget 2022 in accordance with the EUSF Regulation for covering advances. The already paid advances to Spain and Greece of the total amount of EUR 6 288 171 will be deducted before the payment of the balance.