PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Portugal hit by climatic disasters.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2017/741 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Portugal.
CONTENT: Council Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020, and in particular the Article 10 thereof allows for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, within an annual ceiling of EUR 500 million (2011 prices), over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework.
This Fund shall 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 conditions of eligibility to the Fund are detailed in the Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund.
On 26 February 2016, the United Kingdom submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following floods that affected 11 regions during the period of December 2015 to January 2016. In their application the authorities of the United Kingdom stressed that the damage assessment was incomplete and that the relevant figures were only provisional.
On 5 September 2016, Cyprus submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following the consequences of severe drought built up since October 2015 and wild fires on 18 and 19 of June 2016.
On 21 September 2016, Portugal submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following wild fires in the island of Madeira between 8 and 13 August 2016.
The applications by the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Portugal meet the conditions for providing a financial contribution from the Fund, as laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002.
Accordingly, a financial contribution is foreseen for the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Portugal. Therefore, within the framework of the general budget of the Union for 2017, the following amounts shall be granted:
ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall enter into force on 28.4.2017. It shall apply from 5.4.2017.