Resolution of the Committee of "The Regions on the recent flood disasters in Europe and the establishment of the European Union Solidarity Fund"
Date: 2002-10-10
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: European Union, accession to the European Union, aid to disaster victims, economic support, emergency aid, environmental risk prevention, flood, fund (EU)

C 66/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.3.2003

Resolution of the Committee of ‘The Regions on the recent flood disasters in Europe and the
establishment of the European Union Solidarity Fund’

(2003/C 66/06)

At its 46th plenary session (meeting of 10 October 2002) the Committee of the Regions adopted the
following resolution by a unanimous vote:

having regard to the third paragraph of Article 159 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

having regard to the Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund
(COM(2002) 514 final);

having regard to the draft European Parliament report on the Proposal for a Council Regulation
establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (PE 314.730);

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

in the light of this summer’s catastrophic floods that hit regions, towns and cities of the European
Union and the candidate countries;

in the light of the many lives lost in this disaster;

given that the disaster has wrecked innumerable lives and livelihoods, and will have long-term social
and economic repercussions;

in view of the so-far incalculable damage amounting to billions of euros done to private property,
public infrastructure and cultural monuments;

given that the areas hit by the natural disasters are mainly limited in size and that, as a result,
regional and local authorities must also be responsible for assessing the damage and the right to
have recourse to the EU Solidarity Fund;

The Committee of the Regions

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

expresses its profound sympathy and solidarity with the
families, friends and acquaintances of those who lost their
lives;

is concerned about the fate of those who have been
affected by the flood disaster and have suffered damage;

underlines its high esteem for the solidarity and tireless
commitment shown by helpers — both private individ-
uals and all the various private and public organisations
who provided unhesitating and speedy assistance to the
victims, rescued people in emergencies, comforted them
and eased their suffering;

pays tribute to the determination, courage and resolve of
those affected by the flood disaster to take charge of their
own destiny and overcome the effects of the disaster as
quickly as possible;

notes that the disaster has a European-wide impact, and
that European solidarity with the flood victims is in
evidence across all political divides;

6. welcomes the fact that the European institutions, and in
the first place the European Commission, have adopted
support measures without delay and have proposed long-
term action to enable the European Union to make a
contribution to collective solidarity in situations such as
these;

7.

8.

fully supports the Commission’s Proposal for a Council
Regulation establishing the European Union Solidarity
Fund;

considers that in exceptional circumstances, even when
the quantitative criteria proposed by the European Com-
mission are not met, any disaster affecting a substantial
part of the population of the specific zones concerned
can be considered eligible for funding;

9.

notes the need for a speedy conclusion of the interinsti-
tutional negotiations on the establishment of the fund;

10.

recalls its opinion of 15 February 2001 on the structure
and goals of European regional policy in the context of
enlargement and globalisation, in which it advocated the
creation of an intervention instrument for serious crises
of this kind;

11. would stress that the Solidarity Fund differs from the
Structural Funds and other existing Community instru-
ments and that it should be used only for the most serious
natural disasters;

12. would emphasise that, under the subsidiarity principle,
such a fund supplements measures taken at national,
regional and local level;

19.3.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 66/27

13. welcomes the fact that tripartite agreements — which are
to include regional or local authorities — are to be
concluded to implement the financial assistance, and calls
on the Member States to use such agreements since, by
comprehensively involving these authorities at an early
stage, they ensure the efficient deployment of Community
aid;

14. asks that the Member States and regions affected be
given the widest possible responsibility in processing,
administering and monitoring the aid, without prejudice
to the supervisory powers of the Commission and the
Court of Auditors;

15.

stresses that this urgently needed financial aid must be
disbursed quickly and transparently and in a way that is
flexible, non-bureaucratic and fair;

16. welcomes the possibility given to the Member States,
candidate countries and regions concerned to redirect
some of the structural resources assigned for the period
2000-2006, and the special agricultural policy measures
that have been proposed;

17. underscores the need for comprehensive and efficient
coordination of all local, regional, national and European
aid measures on the ground, in the cities, towns and
regions directly affected;

18. notes that, as the main players involved,

local and
regional authorities are called upon — by means of a
smoothly operating administration and the provision of

Brussels, 10 October 2002.

all available public resources — to put in place the
conditions and general framework necessary to repair the
damage quickly and to rebuild and restore private and
public buildings and installations as well as companies,
businesses and infrastructure facilities;

19.

stresses how important it is that European Union soli-
darity should also include the candidate countries
affected;

20. calls on the Member States, the candidate countries and
the regions to give high priority to their own disaster
if
prevention schemes and to examine, review and,
necessary, update the measures and strategies currently
in place, and endorses the Commission’s announcement
to work out a new European crisis prevention strategy;

21. considers it vital that a CoR opinion be drawn up on the
experience and knowledge that the affected cities, towns
and regions have acquired so far in handling the flood
disaster and the effects thereof, and that this opinion be
made available to all local and regional authorities in the
EU and the candidate countries;

22.

23.

feels it is essential to pool the know-how available in
Europe about flood and water management, and, building
on this knowledge, intends to discuss the Member States’
water and flood policy for the future;

instructs its president
to forward this resolution to
the Council, the European Commission, the European
Parliament and the local authorities and regions con-
cerned.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Albert BORE