WRITTEN QUESTION E-3548/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Antonio Mussa (UEN)and Sergio Berlato (UEN) to the Commission

(11 December 2002)

Subject: European Union assistance to tackle the natural disasters which have hit Northern Italy

The Council recently adopted a Regulation establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund(1), with a budget allocation of EUR 1 billion, to be used for the benefit of European Union populations affected by major disasters. Article 2, paragraph 2, second subparagraph of the Regulation makes provision for assistance from the Fund for regions hit by an extraordinary disaster affecting the major part of their population. The recent exceptional floods, combined with landslides and overflowing rivers, which affected a vast expanse of Northern Italy, including the regions of Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia and the Veneto, have destroyed bridges, roads, railway lines and farming areas, together with crops and livestock, forcing thousands of people to be evacuated. Housing has been seriously damaged and initial rough estimates indicate that the necessary rebuilding work may cost about EUR 250 million. In view of all this, can the Commission include these regions of Northern Italy among those to benefit from the exceptional aid envisaged under the new Solidarity Fund for natural disasters?

(1) OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 2003)

In response to the recent flooding last summer 2002 that devastated many parts of Central Europe the Commission immediately proposed creation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), a new financial instrument with resources of up to EUR 1 billion per annum. The focus is on giving immediate assistance to people, regions and countries affected by major disasters to help them return to normal living conditions as quickly as possible. In close cooperation with Parliament and the Council the new instrument was put in place in record time and came into effect on 15 November 2002(1).

For the purposes of the Regulation a major disaster is one resulting, in a Member State or a country involved in accession negotiations, in damage estimated at over EUR 3 billion or more than 0,6 % of its Gross National Income (GNI). In the case of Italy the EUR 3 billion threshold would apply.

Under exceptional circumstances a region can also benefit from assistance from the Fund if it is has been stricken by an extraordinary disaster affecting the major part of its population with serious and lasting repercussions on living conditions and the economic stability of the region.

Mobilisation of the EUSF requires submission of an application to the Commission by the national authorities within ten weeks of the date when the first damage occurred. For disasters occurring between 1 August and 15 November, the date of entry into force of the EUSF regulation, applications must be received within two months of the latter date.

In areas with Structural Fund eligibility the Union can also contribute to economic reconstruction through the regional development programme allocations from these Funds already determined for the period 2000-2006.

Moreover, in the Northern Italian regions, the Union can also contribute to economic reconstruction in rural areas through the EAGGF Guarantee section funds if this mesure is foreseen in the relevant Rural Development Program approved for the period 2000-2006.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund, OJ L 311, 14.11.2002.