What changed

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 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 Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France relating to six natural disasters occurred in 2023.2023

(COM (2024)0325(COM(2024)0325 – C100088/2024 – 2024/0212(BUD))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM (2024)0325(COM(2024)0325 – C100088/2024),

– having regard to Article 107(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund,

– having regard to its resolution of 18 May 2021 on the review of the European Union Solidarity Fund,

– having regard to the reportEEA ofReport theNo Committee1/2024 on- BudgetsEuropean (A100000/2024),Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA),

A. whereas between 1 and 17 May 2023, the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy experienced extremely intense rainfall which led to flooding resulting in total direct damages estimated by the Italian authorities at EUR 8.5 billion;

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0002/2024),

B.A. whereas between 31 and 617 AugustMay 2023, Sloveniathe wasEmilia-Romagna impactedregion byof heavyItaly experienced extremely intense rainfall which led to floods across the countryflooding resulting in total direct damages ofestimated EURby 7.3the billionItalian accordingauthorities toat theEUR Commission;8,5 billion;

B. whereas between 3 and 6 August 2023, Slovenia was impacted by heavy rainfall which led to floods across the country and was its worst natural disaster to date, resulting in total direct damages of EUR 7,3 billion according to the Commission;

C. whereas between 3 and 6 August 2023, Austria was impacted by heavy rainfall which led to floods in southern Austrian regions resulting in total direct damages estimated by the Austrian authorities at EUR 208 million;

D. whereas between 4 and 11 September 2023, Greece was impacted by the Mediterranean storm “Daniel” which caused heavy rainfall and led to floods in multiple locations in central Greece, particularly in the Thessaly region, resulting in total direct damages estimated by the Greek authorities at EUR 2.32,3 billion;

E. whereas between 25 October and 10 November 2023, the Tuscany region of Italy experiences intense rainfall which led to flash floods resulting in total direct damages estimated by the Italian authorities at EUR 2.72,7 billion;

F. whereas between 2 and 9 November 2023, the former Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of the Hauts-de-France region of France was impacted by heavy rainfall which caused floods resulting in total direct damages estimated by the French authorities at EUR 1.91,9 billion;

1. Expresses its deepest solidarity with all the victims, their families and all the individuals affected by the destructive floods in Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France as well as with the national, regional and local authorities involved in the relief efforts;

3. Reiterates the importance of communicating to the public the tangible benefits brought about by the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), also to further increase citizens’ awareness of Union tools and programmes;

4. Highlights the increasing number of severe and destructive natural disasters in Europe and calls on Member States and the Commission to invest in climate mitigation and adaptation measures to avoid human and economic losses; considers that the budget of the EUSF or its equivalent should be expanded;expanded in view of the upcoming Commission proposal on the new Multiannual Financial Framework and subsequent inter-institutional negotiations; urges the Commission to increase the budget of the European Solidarity Reserve and Emergencyto Aidmake Reservesure (SEAR);that the overall amount of funding and the allocation modalities ensure the optimal effectiveness of the EUSF;

5. Stresses that the EUSF is only a curative instrument and that the Union should also continue to address climate change adaptation and mitigation by supporting European and national policies to prevent natural disasters; recalls in this regard the need for effective synergies with other Union policies and programmes and underlines that Member States should make best use of funding opportunities of the European Regional Development Fund; underscores however that assistance provided under the EUSF should not be to the detriment of European funding received by Member States under other Union programmes or policies;

5. Stresses that, due to climate change, islands and coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to natural calamities; acknowledges that phenomena such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and droughts - which also affect lakes and rivers - represent an increasing threat to many European regions, particularly those in the Mediterranean; questions whether the EUSF is adequately aligned with the emergency needs related to climate adaptation in these particularly fragile territories; therefore, believes that islands and coastal regions should receive adequate funding within the framework of the EUSF to address their specific vulnerabilities;

6. Recalls the importance of rapid and solid damage assessment that takes due account of the economic repercussions and calls for increased operational efforts to be made in order to reduce the average time for the release of advanced payments, while ensuring the Union budget is protected;

6. Stresses that the EUSF is only a curative instrument and that the Union should also continue to address climate change adaptation and mitigation by supporting European and national policies to prevent natural disasters; underlines that the EEA Report No 1/2024 ‘European Climate Risk Assessment’ warned that the bloc is unprepared for the effects of climate change and stresses the need for action to avoid that the climate risks identified reach critical levels; calls on the Member States and the Commission to deliver their contribution to achieve the objectives agreed at the Paris Climate Summit; recalls the need for effective synergies with other Union policies and programmes and underlines that Member States should make best use of funding opportunities in particular, of the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund +, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the Rural development programmes; stresses also the need for preventive measures, not only to mitigate future damage but also to prevent the exacerbation of risk conditions following catastrophic events, such as wildfires, landslides or the drying up of lakes and rivers; underlines the importance of adequate flexibility between the different programmes; underscores that assistance provided under the EUSF should not be to the detriment of European funding received by Member States under other Union programmes or policies; recalls that Member States can grant state aid, in accordance with applicable Union rules, notably for agricultural businesses that have suffered damages due to natural disasters;

7. Stresses the urgent need to release immediate financial assistance through the EUSF to ensure that support can reach the affected regions in a timely manner;

7. Recalls the importance of rapid and solid damage assessment that takes due account of the economic repercussions and calls for increased operational efforts to be made in order to reduce the average time for the release of advanced payments, while ensuring the Union budget is protected; calls on the Commission to further streamline the procedure and shorten the time required for the processing of the applications for the mobilisation of the EUSF, to accelerate response times and ensure that funds reach the affected regions promptly as natural disasters inflict significant damage that disrupts daily life and local economies; stresses the need for reasonable flexibility when recipient countries face justifiable delays and challenges in applying for and utilizing allocated funding; calls on Member States to take into consideration that vulnerable populations are particularly affected by natural disasters due to socio-economic factors further hampering their ability to recover;

8. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

8. Stresses the urgent need to release immediate financial assistance through the EUSF to ensure that support can reach the affected regions in a timely manner;

9. Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

9. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

10. Instructs its President to forwardsign thisthe resolution,decision includingwith itsthe annex,President toof the Council and arrange for its publication in the Commission.Official Journal of the European Union;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.

ANNEX: DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity FundFund, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027, and in particular Article 9 thereof,

Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation on budgetary matters and on sound financial management (IIA), as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources,resources (IIA), and in particular point 10 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

(1) The European Union Solidarity Fund ('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 major or regional natural disasters or major public health emergency.

(2) The Fund is not to exceed the ceilings as laid down in Article 9 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2020/2093, as amended by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765.

(3) On 24 July 2023, Italy submitted an application to mobilise the Fund following the floods in Emilia-Romagna in May 2023.

(a) the amount of EUR 378 833 540 shall be provided to Italy in relation to floods in the Emilia-Romagna Region in May 2023;

(b) the amount of EUR 428 405 059 shall be provided to Slovenia in relation to the floodfloods in August 2023;

(c) the amount of EUR 5 199 245 shall be provided to Austria in relation to floods in August 2023;

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Rapporteur recommends the swift approval of the Commission proposal for a decision annexed to this report, leading to the rapid mobilisation of the aforementioned amounts, as a sign of European solidarity with Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France. The rapporteur calls on the Commission that this financial contribution should be delivered with particular urgency.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

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