MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Speeding up procedures and increasing EU financial assistance to respond to natural disasters in the Member States – E-002796/2024(ASW)

1. The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is a post-disaster instrument which provides financial assistance to EU countries facing severe natural disasters according to the specific rules set out in Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002[1]. The EUSF financial assistance is intended to supplement the country’s public expenditure to finance essential emergency and recovery operations. It is not a rapid response instrument. The disbursement of financial assistance requires per application the prior mobilisation of the fund by the European Parliament and the Council, which can take several months.

2. Recognising the challenge, the Commission proposed a substantial financial reinforcement of the EUSF in the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)[2]. The budgetary authority decided to increase the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve by EUR 1.5 billion for the years 2024-2027.

The EUSF now has an annual budget of EUR 1 016 million[3] (in 2018 prices).

The EUSF aid calculation methodology was established in 2003 and accepted by the European Parliament and the Council. Changes to the methodology would need to be aligned to the available budgetary resources of the Fund.

In the preparation of the next MFF, the Commission will carefully assess the operation of the EUSF and reflect how to best deliver on the EUSF’s objectives in the future.

• [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012
• [2] Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 of 29 February 2024 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027.
• [3] EUR 1 144.1 million in 2024 prices.