Decision (EU) 2021/885 on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece and France in relation to natural disasters and to Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain in relation to a public health emergency

What it is

to mobilise the EU Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Greece and France further to regional natural disasters that took place in these countries in the course of 2020, as well as to 20 Member States and accession countries in relation to a public health emergency. 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. In accordance with the MFF Regulation, the maximum amount that can be mobilised by the EUSF from the 2021 allocation until 1 September 2021 is EUR 477 543 750. The amount of EUR 50 million has been already inscribed in the General Budget 2021 (in commitments and payments) for the payment of advances. In addition, an amount of EUR 47 981 598 of the 2020 allocation was not used until the end of that year and is carried over to 2021. The European Parliament adopted by 669 votes to 7, with 17 abstentions, a resolution approving the European Parliament and Council decision to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to help Greece and France in relation to natural disasters, as well as Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Spain in relation to a public health emergency. 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 a major public health emergency. Members stated that the maximum amount available under the Fund at this stage in 2021 is EUR 525 525 348, which is sufficient to cover the needs under the proposed decision. As part of the EU's general budget for the 2021 financial year, the following amounts, in commitment and payment appropriations, are mobilised under the European Union Solidarity Fund in connection with natural disasters: - EUR 3 300 100 shall be provided to Greece in relation to the floods in Sterea Ellada, including the amount of EUR 330 010 as advance payment; - EUR 21 588 519 shall be provided to Greece in relation to cyclone Ianos, including the amount of EUR 2 158 852 as advance payment; - EUR 2 531 301 shall be provided to Greece in relation to the earthquake in the islands of Samos, Chios and Ikaria, including the amount of EUR 253 131 as advance payment; - EUR 59 325 000 shall be provided to France in relation to the storm Alex, including the amount of EUR 5 932 500 as advance payment. The following amounts in commitment and payment appropriations should be mobilised under the European Union Solidarity Fund in relation to a major public health emergency: Members stressed the urgency of mobilising financial assistance, regretting that it had taken a considerable amount of time to assess applications for financial assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic in…

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