Decision (EU) 2020/28 on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece

What it is

to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece further to the flooding and landslide disaster that took place in 2019. PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and 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 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 (MFF). This decision covers the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for an amount of EUR 4 552 517 to provide assistance to Greece further to the flooding and landslide disaster that took place in 2019. The European Parliament adopted by 669 votes to 7, with 17 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 Greece. Parliament approved the decision annexed to the resolution to mobilise the amount of EUR 4 552 517 to Greece, in commitment and payment appropriations from the European Union Solidarity Fund as part of the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2019. The abovementioned amount shall be financed from the appropriations mobilised for the payment of advances in the Union budget for the financial year 2019. The appropriations available for the payment of advances shall be reduced accordingly. Parliament stressed the need to release the remaining amount as soon as possible and within a reasonable timeframe, as recovery operations in Crete should be concluded immediately due to severe weather conditions that tend to occur more and more often in Crete and other regions of Greece. NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2020/28 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece. CONTENT: the European Parliament has decided to mobilise EUR 4 552 517 in commitment and payment appropriations for Greece from the European Union Solidarity Fund under the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019. The Decision follows Greece’s application for assistance from the Fund submitted on 15 May 2019 following exceptionally heavy rain and storm which hit Crete and led to floods and landslides. Greece’s application fulfils the conditions for a financial contribution from the Fund. 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 maximum annual amount allocated to the Fund may not exceed EUR 500 million (at 2011 prices). The amount referred to in the first paragraph shall be financed from the appropriations mobilised for the payment of advances in the Union budget for the financial year 2019. The appropriations available for the payment of advances shall be reduced…

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