Decision (EU) 2019/1817 on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Austria, Italy and Romania

What it is

to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to assist Romania, Italy and Austria. PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council. CONTENT: the proposed Decision covers the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for an amount of EUR 293 551 794 to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria further to disasters that took place in these countries in the course of 2018. The 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), as laid down in Article 10 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (MFF regulation). 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. The European Parliament adopted by 645 votes to 18, with 30 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 assist Romania, Italy and Austria. The aim of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is to enable the European 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 maximum annual amount allocated to the Fund may not exceed EUR 500 million (at 2011 prices). Parliament approved the decision to mobilise the following amounts under the EUSF in commitment and payment appropriations under the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2019: The requests submitted by Romania (2018), Italy (2018) and Austria (2019) following…

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