Decision (EU) 2020/1076 on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria

What it is

to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to assist Portugal, Spain, 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 278 993 814 to provide assistance to Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria further to disasters that took place in these countries during 2019. The Fund enables 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 European Parliament adopted by 680 votes to 7, with 1 abstention, a resolution approving 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 Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria hit by natural disasters in 2019. Parliament approved the proposal to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund from the 2020 budget as follows in commitment and payment appropriations: It welcomed this decision as a sign of the Union’s solidarity with the Union citizens and regions hit by natural disasters. It highlighted that, due to climate change, natural disasters are set to become more violent and more frequent. Parliament also called for a reform of the Fund in the forthcoming multiannual financial framework in order to take into account the future consequences of climate change, while stressing that the Fund is only a curative instrument and that climate change requires primarily a preventive policy in line with the Paris Agreement and the Green Deal. Lastly, Parliament noted that there is an urgent need to release financial assistance through the European Union Solidarity Fund to the regions affected by natural disasters in the Union in 2019. Therefore, in order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, this Decision shall apply from the date of its adoption.

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