REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL European Union Solidarity Fund Annual Report 2013
Date: 2015-03-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, aid to disaster victims, bad weather, drought, earthquake, emergency aid, financial aid, fire, flood, fund (EU)













EUR-Lex - 52015DC0118 - EN











|



52015DC0118

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL European Union Solidarity Fund Annual Report 2013 /* COM/2015/0118 final */









TABLE OF CONTENTS
1............ Introduction. 3
2............ Applications Pending
from 2012. 4
3............ New applications
received in 2013. 5
4............ Financing. 9
5............ Monitoring. 9
6............ Closures. 10
7............ Proposal to amend
Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity
Fund and Conclusions. 11

1.                      
Introduction

Council Regulation
(EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union
Solidarity Fund (hereinafter "the Regulation"), provides that a
report on the activity of the Fund in the previous year shall be presented to
the European Parliament and to the Council. The present report presents the
activities of the EU Solidarity Fund (hereinafter “EUSF”) during the year 2013:
the treatment of pending and new applications and the assessment of
implementation reports with a view to preparing these for closure. It also
addresses the proposal to amend the Regulation presented in the course of the
year[1].
During 2013, the
Commission received eight new applications for EUSF assistance which
represents an average year in terms of the number of applications. Four
applications were submitted in January; four more applications arrived in July
and August. Three of these applications concerned the flooding events in
Slovenia, Austria and Croatia in October/November 2012. The applications
received from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary concerned the
severe floods of May/June 2013. The application received from Portugal
concerned the mud and landslides on the Island of Madeira in January 2013. With
the exception of the ones from Portugal and Hungary the Commission accepted all
these applications and
proposed the mobilisation of the EUSF.
The
Commission also completed its assessment of an application from Romania pending
from 2012 relating to drought and fires for which it also proposed the mobilisation
of the Fund.
In financial terms, in the
course of 2013, the Commission approved aid from the EUSF amounting to a total
of EUR 415,127 million; details are described in chapter 4 “Financing”. In
total EUR 14,321 million of aid could be paid out, namely for the flooding
events in Slovenia and Austria of 2012.
Annexes 1 to 3 present the
applicable thresholds for mobilising the fund for 2013, a summary of the
applications received and a complete list of applications dealt with since
2002.

2.                      
Applications Pending from 2012

Romania (drought
and fires)
During
the summer of 2012 major parts of Romania suffered from very low precipitation
and repeated waves of extremely high temperatures, leading to drought with
important crop failure, numerous forest and vegetation fires, shortage of water
for the population, and resulting problems for the water supply and
hydro-energy production systems. Subsequently, Romania submitted an application
for EUSF assistance on 2 November 2012.
In the cases of drought the
provision of the Regulation whereby applications have to be submitted within
10-weeks of the occurrence of the first damage cannot be reasonably applied.
The Commission has therefore applied the same principles that it established
when assessing the first comparable EUSF application, namely the 2008 drought
in Cyprus. Accordingly, the date at which the drought was considered to have
reached its peak should be considered as the starting date of the 10-week
application period. In Romania prolonged periods of low rainfall, high
temperatures and numerous fires over several months lead to the development of
severe drought conditions affecting some 2,764 million hectares of land in 35
of the 41 Romanian counties which cumulated on 25 August 2012 with
the outbreak of major vegetation and forest fires. The Commission, therefore,
considered that 25 August 2012 should be accepted as the starting
date of the major disaster. The application presented to the Commission on
2 November 2012 respected the time-limits.
In their initial application
the Romanian authorities estimated the total direct damage at over EUR 1,9 billion
representing 263% of the major disaster threshold for mobilising the EUSF
applicable to Romania in 2012 of EUR 735,487 million (i.e. 0,6% of
GNI based on 2010 data). This figure however contained agricultural damage that
had occurred prior to the defined starting date which may not be included in
the total amount of damage. The Commission requested Romania to review its
damage assessment. The revised total damage presented by Romania minus other
ineligible indirect cost amounted to EUR 806,7 million. Over 99% of the
estimated damage related to private agriculture and forestry which is not
eligible for EUSF aid as it is not covered by the types of eligible emergency operations
pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Regulation. The cost of operations eligible
under Article 3(2) therefore amounted to EUR 2,476 million (i.e. costs of
emergency operations of the rescue services, in particular fire-fighting and
water transport, and rehabilitation operations on the water infrastructure).
Since aid from the EUSF may not exceed the total cost of eligible operations
the Commission decided on 3 October 2013 to propose the mobilisation of the
Fund amounting to EUR 2,476 million, covering the cost of eligible
operations. Following the completion of the budget procedure in the Council and
the European Parliament and the conclusion of the implementation agreement
between the Commssion and Romania, the EUSF contribution was paid out on 10 March
2014.

3.                      
New applications received in
2013

Floods in Slovenia, Austria and
Croatia (three cases) 
In late October and early November 2012 intense
rainfall in south-eastern Europe caused rivers to burst their banks flooding in
wider areas of the rivers Sava, Kupa, Mura and Drava in Slovenia and in the
basins of the rivers Mura, Drava and Lavant in Austria as well as on the
territory of Croatia.
Subsequently, all three countries submitted
applications for EUSF financial assistance: Slovenia applied for a major
disaster, whereas Croatia's and Austria's applications were based on the
so-called "neighbouring country" provision whereby a country affected
by the same disaster as a neighbouring country where a major disaster has
occurred may exceptionally benefit from EUSF financial assistance. 
(1)         
Slovenia: The
application was received on 2 January 2013, within the 10-weeks deadline, after
the first damage was recorded on 28 October 2012. Total direct damage was
estimated at EUR 359,535 million stemming in particular from significant
damage in agriculture, forestry, to the local road infrastructure and
watercourses. Over 2 500 homes, administrative and economic facilities as
well as 10 schools suffered damage. This amount represented 1,008% of
Slovenia's GNI and exceeded by far the major disaster threshold for mobilising
the EUSF of EUR 214,021 million applicable to Slovenia in 2013 (i.e.
0,6% of GNI based on 2011 data). On 30 April 2013, the Commission therefore
proposed to mobilise financial assistance of EUR 14,081 million.
Following the completion of the budget procedure in the Council and the
European Parliament and the conclusion of the implementation agreement between
the Commission and Slovenia, the financial contribution was paid out on
19 November 2013.
(2)         
Austria: The
disaster in Slovenia also impacted on Austria, albeit in a very limited way.
The town of Lavamünd, located at the immediate confluence of the rivers Drava
(Drau) and Lavant on Austria's border with Slovenia, was inundated with water
rising up to two meters high damaging public buildings, private homes,
businesses and local infrastructure.
The application was presented on 11 January
2013 within 10-weeks deadline after the first damage was recorded on 5 November
2012. Updated information was received on 28 February 2013. Total direct
damage caused by the disaster amounted to EUR 9,6 million. This amount
represented only a small fraction of the major disaster threshold for
mobilising the EUSF of EUR 1,798 billion (i.e. 0,6% of Austria's GNI
of 2011). However, given that the flooding in Lavamünd had the same origins as
the major disaster in Slovenia the Austrian authorities presented their
application under the so called "neighbouring country” provision. Despite
the limited damage which represented only 0,53% of the threshold, the EUSF
could be mobilised. The financial contribution from the Fund amounting to
EUR 240 000 was paid out on 19 November 2013.
(3)         
Croatia: Croatia,
which at the time of the disaster was covered by the scope of the EUSF as a
country negotiating its accession to the EU, presented its application on 3
January 2013 within the deadline of 10-weeks after the first damage was
recorded on 26 October 2012. Croatia reported that important infrastructure as
well as private and public property was damaged in 9 counties, in 4 of
which the disaster had serious effects on the local economy and the living
conditions of some 795 000 inhabitants. Agriculture and forestry,
industrial and commercial facilities, private homes, dykes, bridges and piers
on the Croatian coastline suffered in particular. Several hundred private homes
were flooded and people had to be evacuated. In the remaining 5 counties
the flood protection measures taken by Hrvatske vode (Croatian waters)
prevented damage to private property.
The Croatian authorities estimated the total
direct damage at over EUR 11,463 million. As this amount was clearly
below the major disaster threshold for mobilising the EUSF of
EUR 259,805 million (i.e. 0,6% of GNI based on 2011 data) the
disaster did not qualify as a "major natural disaster". However, like
Austria, Croatia invoked the "neighbouring country" provision which
the Commission accepted. The financial contribution from the Fund amounting to
EUR 286 587 was paid out on 15 January 2014.
Floods in Central Europe (four cases)
In May and June 2013 Central Europe was
affected by a meteorological situation very similar to the one which lead to
the 100-year-flooding-event in 2002 and subsequently to the creation of the
EUSF. Again, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic were affected by extreme
flooding. Hungary was also concerned, albeit to a much more limited degree. In
spite of partly higher flood levels, overall damage, while still very high,
remained below that of 2002, in particular in Austria and the Czech Republic,
not least because of the effectiveness of flood protection and risk control
measures introduced since 2002. 
Subsequently, Germany submitted an application
for financial assistance from the EUSF under the criteria for a major disaster,
whereas the applications from Austria and the Czech Republic were based on the
so-called "neighbouring country” provision. Hungary applied under the
criteria for “extraordinary regional disasters”.
(1)         
Germany: The
application was received on 24 July 2013, within the 10-weeks deadline after
the first damage was recorded on 18 May 2013. Large areas of Germany
experienced amounts of extremely intense rainfall and water levels reached a
new all-time high on many rivers. The floods were more extensive and more severe
than the floods of August 2002 and the previous record summer floods of July
1954. In total, twelve German Länder were directly affected, eight people lost
their lives, with at least 128 people injured. More than 100 000 people
were evacuated from flood-affected areas with a total of almost 600 000
people affected by the disaster. 32 000 houses were damaged or completely
destroyed and severe damage to public infrastructure was reported. 
The German authorities estimated the total
direct damage at over EUR 8,153 billion. Since this amount exceeded
by far the threshold for mobilising the EUSF of EUR 3,679 billion
applicable to Germany in 2013 (EUR 3 billion in 2002 prices), the
disaster qualified as a “major natural disaster”. On 3 October 2013, the
Commission proposed to mobilise financial assistance of
EUR 360,454 million. The corresponding amending budget (covering also
the Austrian and Czech cases described below) was adopted by the Council and
the European Parliament on 20 November 2013 but provided that a major part of
the necessary appropriations would only be available in 2014. Accordingly, the
EUSF contribution was paid out on 19 March 2014 after the implementation
agreement between the Commission and Germany had been concluded.
(2)         
Austria: The
Commission received the application on 6 August 2013, within the
deadline of 10-weeks after the first damage was recorded on 30 May 2013. The
flood affected seven of the nine Austrian Länder, in particular Vorarlberg,
Tyrol, Salzburg, Lower and Upper Austria with a population of some
4,6 million inhabitants. In some river basins (Saalach, Salzach, Inn, and
upper Danube) flood levels reached a 500 year high. It resulted in widespread
damage to infrastructure, in particular protective infrastructure along the rivers,
in the transport and in the water/waste water sectors. Private homes and
property were damaged or destroyed, crop failure resulted from flooding of over
22 000 hectares of agricultural land. Over 300 businesses suffered direct
damage, including some in the all-important tourism sector.
The total direct damage was estimated at
EUR 866,462 million, representing 48% of the major disaster threshold
of EUR 1,798 billion (i.e. 0,6% of Austria's GNI), thus not qualifying as
a "major disaster". As the major disaster in Germany was caused by
the same weather phenomenon, the Austrian application was accepted under the
"neighbouring country" provision of the Regulation. The Commission
decided on 3 October 2013 to propose financial assistance of EUR 21,662
million to Austria. The financial contribution from the Fund was paid out on
14 February 2014.
(3)         
Czech Republic:
The Commission received the application on 8 August 2013, within the
deadline of 10-weeks after the first damage was recorded on
2 June 2013. Torrential rainfalls caused flooding with up to 50-year
return periods especially in the catchment areas of the Berounka, Vltava and
Labe rivers and affecting in particular the regions of South Bohemia, Plzeň,
Central Bohemia, Hradec Králové, Liberec, Ústí and the City of Prague which
represent approx. 54% of the Czech Republic territory and directly concerned
more than one third of the population of the Czech Republic. 15 people were
killed and 23 000 had to be evacuated. The floods damaged or destroyed in
particular the transport infrastructure (railways, roads and bridges etc.),
telecommunication networks, water supply and wastewater systems, as well as
electricity and gas networks. More than 7 000 private homes were damaged.
Health care and social services, businesses, the agricultural and forest sector
also suffered extensive damage. 
The total direct damage was estimated at
EUR 637,131 million. This amount represented 73% of the threshold of
EUR 871,618 million (i.e. 0,6% of the Czech Republic's GNI), thus not
qualifying as a "major disaster". However, as in the case of Austria,
the Czech flooding had the same meteorological origins as the major disaster in
Germany.  The application was thus based on the so-called "neighbouring
country” provision. The Commission decided on 3 October 2013 to
propose financial assistance to the Czech Republic amounting to
EUR 15,928 million. Following the adoption of the corresponding
amending budget by the Council and the European Parliament and the conclusion
of the implementation agreement between the Commission and the Czech Republic,
the EUSF contribution was paid out on 19 March 2014.
(4)         
Hungary: The
extreme floods wave on the Danube and its tributaries upstream in Germany and
Austria reached Hungary on 4 June and left the country on 14 June
2013. The most severely hit area was concentrated in Central Hungary in and
around Budapest where damage was caused to infrastructure, in particular in the
transport sector, water supply and wastewater systems, health, education,
telecommunication, private homes and businesses. Some 2 500 hectares of
agricultural land were inundated resulting in crop losses. More widespread
damage could however be avoided thanks to very intense emergency operations.
The Commission received Hungary’s application on 13 August 2013,
within the deadline of 10-weeks after the first damage was recorded on
4 June 2013.
Hungary estimated the total direct damage at
EUR 27,951 million. This amount represented less than 5% of the major
disaster threshold for mobilising the EUSF of EUR 569,258 million (i.e.
0,6% of Hungary’s GNI), the disaster therefore did by far not qualify as a
"major disaster". The “neighbouring country criterion” could not be
applied as none of Hungary’s neighbours suffered a major disaster from the
floods. The application was therefore presented under the criteria laid down
for so-called “extraordinary regional disasters”. The Commission’s assessment
however concluded that Hungary's application did not meet the exceptional
criteria for a regional disaster as stipulated in the Regulation as it provided
no evidence for serious and lasting repercussions on the living conditions of
the population and on the economic stability of the affected region. On 3
October 2013, the Commission therefore decided to reject the application as it
could not be considered to be extraordinary within the meaning of the
Regulation. The Hungarian authorities were informed accordingly.
Floods and landslides in Madeira
(Portugal)
On 4 and 5 November 2012, unusually
high rainfall in parts of the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira triggered
landslides and flooding causing damage to public infrastructure, to private
property and in agriculture. Consequently, Portugal submitted an application
for EUSF financial assistance which was received at the Commission on 14
January 2013, within the 10-weeks deadline.
Portugal reported
total direct damage of EUR 25,7 million which represented only 2,5% of the
major disaster threshold of EUR 987,376 million (i.e. 0,6% of GNI).
The application was therefore presented under the criteria laid down for
so-called “extraordinary regional disasters”. Given the disaster’s limited
impact on Madeira’s population and economic stability and despite Madeira’s
status as an outermost region the Commission concluded that the application did
not meet the exceptional criteria for a regional disaster as stipulated in the
Regulation. On 22 April 2013, the Commission decided to reject the application
as the disaster could not be considered to be extraordinary within the meaning
of the Regulation. The Portuguese authorities were informed accordingly.
Where
a financial contribution from the Fund was mobilised, the full amount shall be
used within 12 months from the date on which the Commission has disbursed it.
The financial contribution may only be used for essential emergency and
recovery operations as defined in Article 3 of the Regulation.

4.                      
Financing

In 2013, financial contributions from the Fund
were approved by the budgetary authority for seven cases concerning
applications received in 2012 and 2013.
The corresponding Preliminary Draft Amending
Budget No 5 for the year 2013 for applications received in 2013 from
Slovenia, Austria and Croatia (flooding of October/November 2012) was completed
on 11 September 2013[2].
Following the adoption of the grant decisions and the conclusion of the
implementation agreements, the payments for Slovenia and Austria were done on
19 November 2013. For Croatia, the payment was done on 15 January 2014.
Preliminary Draft Amending Budget
No 9 for the year 2013 covered the flooding disasters in Germany, Austria,
and the Czech Republic in May/June 2013 and the application from Romania in
relation to the drought and fires events of 2012[3].
EUR 150 million in payment appropriations (of a total of
EUR 400,5 million) were made available only in 2014. Payments for all four
cases were done following the carry-over of the budget appropriations to 2014. 
 Solidarity Fund financial contribution – budget approved in 2013 
 Beneficiary State || Disaster || Category || Amount (EUR) 
 Slovenia || Flooding 2012 || Major || 14 081 355  
 Austria || Flooding 2012 || Neighbouring || 240 000  
 Croatia || Flooding 2012 || Neighbouring || 286 587  
 Germany || Flooding 2013 || Major || 360 453 575  
 Austria || Flooding 2013 || Neighbouring || 21 661 550  
 Czech Republic || Flooding 2013 || Neighbouring || 15 928 275  
 Romania || Drought and fires 2012 || Major || 2 475 689  
 TOTAL || 415 127 031  

5.                      
Monitoring

During 2013 the
Commission carried out monitoring visits to three beneficiary countries in
order to discuss the implementation systems put in place and to reply to
specific questions raised by the implementing authorities:
–              
to Lorca (Spain) on 5 February 2013
relating to the EUR 21,071 million financial contribution received
following the earthquake affecting the town of Lorca of 11 May 2011.
–              
to Genoa (Italy) on 23 April 2013
relating to the EUR 18,062 million financial contribution received
following the flooding events of Liguria and Tuscany of 2011.
–              
to Bologna (Italy) on 5 June 2013
following the EUR 670,192 million financial contribution received for
the devastating earthquakes affecting Emilia-Romagna, Lombardia and Veneto of
20 May 2012.
All three visits
gave reasonable assurance that the relevant authorities were carrying out the
implementation and controls in a transparent and correct manner, and in respect
of the rules imposed by the Regulation, the respective grant decision and
implementation agreement. Upon receipt of the final reports the Commission will
conduct further analyses and take appropriate measures as appropriate.

6.                      
Closures

Article 8(2) of the Regulation lays down that
no later than six months after the expiry of the one-year period from the date
of disbursement of the financial contribution, the beneficiary State shall
present a report on the financial execution of the financial contribution
(“implementation report”) with a statement justifying the expenditure
(“validity statement”). At the end of this procedure, the Commission shall
close the assistance from the Fund.
Accordingly, in the course of 2013, four files
were closed:
(1)         
Germany, storm Kyrill of 2007: the financial contribution from the Fund amounted to
EUR 166,91 million. Germany presented on 9 July 2009 its
implementation report including 15 statements of validity established by the
German Länder affected by the storm. The auditing work of the Commission
required further information from the German authorities which was provided in
May 2012. Germany declared that an amount of EUR 9 778,59 was later
covered by a third party. The Regulation provides that amounts covered by a
third party have to be returned to the Commission. This amount was recovered by
the Commission in April 2013 and the case was closed in May 2013.
(2)         
France, storm Klaus of 2009: the financial contribution from the Fund amounted to
EUR 109,38 million. The implementation report from France was
received on 31 August 2011. Following an internal audit by the French
authorities, the ineligible expenditure amount declared amounted to
EUR 1,105 million. This amount was later corrected to EUR 1,066
million. In addition, the Commission's assessment showed that further
information regarding the statement of validity needed to be requested from
France. In August 2013, the Commission’s Directorate-General for Budget
initiated the off-setting procedure in relation to the amount of EUR 1,066
million against a French-European Regional Development Fund payment. France did
not object and the off-setting was executed on 21 August 2013. The case was
closed.
(3)         
Greece, Evros flooding of 2006: the financial contribution from the Fund amounted to
EUR 9,31 million. The implementation report from Greece was received
at the Commission in July 2009. Additional information from Greece needed to be
requested in April 2010 and June 2012. Greece sent its final replies in April 2013
allowing to resolve all open issues relating the statement of validity. The
case was closed in November 2013. 
(4)         
Italy, Abruzzo earthquake of 2009: the financial contribution amounted to
EUR 493,77 million. The implementation report was received by the
Commission in January 2011. Italy reported eligible expenditure of
EUR 919,98 million, exceeding the EUSF contribution by EUR 426,12
million. Given the size of the financial contribution, this case was audited by
the Commission and also subject of a performance audit undertaken by the
European Court of Auditors. The final report of the performance audit of the
European Court of Auditors was published in February 2013 (Special Report No
24/2012). The final audit report of the Commission was sent to Italy in May
2013. Following the Commission’s audit ineligible expenditure was detected.
Italy could legally exclude the irregular expenditure from the declared one and
still justify a sufficient amount of regular expenditure to cover the totality
of the EUSF financial contribution. As a consequence, the findings detected did
not have any financial impact on the EU budget and no recovery of EU funds was
required. The case was closed on 27 November 2013.
In 2013, the Commission also received nine new
implementation reports for cases relating to flooding events of 2010: from
Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Romania and Slovenia.
Croatia and the Czech Republic submitted their reports for disasters that
occurred in spring and autumn of 2010. In addition, the Commission received a
report from Italy relating to the Veneto flooding of 2011. At the end of the
period covered by this annual report the assessment of these implementation
reports was still on-going.

7.                      
Proposal to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 establishing
the European Union Solidarity Fund and
Conclusions

As in previous years, only
a small part of the applications for aid received related to major disasters
(two of a total of eight cases) whereas the other six applications all related
to extraordinary regional disasters or were based on the exceptional
“neighbouring country” provision. As in previous years, assessing whether
regional disaster applications meet the exceptional criteria laid down in the
Regulation proved challenging and time consuming.
On the whole, the implementation of the Solidarity Fund in 2013, like the experience
made in previous years, confirmed the Commission’s view that important
improvements to the operation of the Fund, in particular a better
responsiveness, could be achieved by adjusting a limited number of provisions
of the Regulation, while maintaining the rationale and character of the Fund
and without touching on matters of finance and the volume of permitted
spending. 
Therefore, based on its 2011 Communication on the
'Future of the EU Solidarity Fund'[4], the Commission presented in mid-2013 a legislative proposal to amend
the Regulation[5]. This proposal included in particular elements geared towards making
the Fund more responsive and simpler to use with clearer criteria as to who can
benefit, simplifying the existing rules so that aid can be paid out more
rapidly than before, introducing the possibility of advance payments, spelling
out more clearly who and what will be eligible, particularly for regional
disasters, and focusing on disaster prevention and risk management strategies
for Member States, including the full implementation of
relevant Union legislation on disaster risk prevention and management and the
use of available Union funding for relevant investments. 
Deliberations of the proposal began at the end of
November in the European Parliament and in the Council with the Lithuanian
Presidency in December. Negotiations were concluded under Greek Presidency in
2014. Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 15 May 2014 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 establishing the
European Union Solidarity Fund entered into force on 28 June 2014. The results
will be presented in the 2014 annual report.
[1]                      Proposal for
a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council
Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund,
COM(2013) 522 final of 25.7.2013.
[2]               Amending Budget (AB) No 5 for the year 2013 covers
the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 14 607 942 in
commitment and payment appropriations relating to a flooding disaster in
Slovenia, Croatia and Austria in autumn 2012. Official Journal L 327 of
6/12/2013.
[3]               Amending Budget (AB) No 9 for the year 2013 covers
the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 400,5 million
in commitment appropriations and EUR 250 million in payment appropriations. Proposed
by the Commission on 3 October 2013 (COM(2013)691), amended by the Council on
30 October 2013 and approved by the European Parliament on 20 November 2013.  Official
Journal L 49 of 19/02/2014.
[4]               COM(2011)613 final
[5]               COM(2013)522
Annex I: EU Solidarity Fund - Thresholds for major
disasters applicable in 2013
(based
on 2011 Eurostat figures for Gross National Income)
For
the mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund country-specific thresholds apply
defined as total direct damage in excess of 0.6% of GNI or € 3 billion in 2002
prices based on EUROSAT harmonised data. The lower amount applies.
 (million
€)
   || Country || GNI 2011*1) || 0.6% of GNI* || Major disaster threshold 2013* 
 AT || ÖSTERREICH || 299 685 || 1 798.112 || 1 798.112 
 BE || BELGIË/BELGIQUE || 373 893 || 2 243.358 || 2 243.358 
 BG || BULGARIA || 37 475 || 224.850 || 224.850 
 CY || KYPROS || 17 932 || 107.591 || 107.591 
 CZ || ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA || 145 270 || 871.618 || 871.618 
 DE || DEUTSCHLAND || 2 640 910 || 15 845.460 || 3 678.755** 
 DK || DANMARK || 246 267 || 1 477.602 || 1 477.602 
 EE || EESTI || 15 120 || 90.719 || 90.719 
 EL || ELLADA || 202 482 || 1 214.894 || 1 214.894 
 ES || ESPAÑA || 1 041 900 || 6 251.400 || 3 678.755** 
 FI || SUOMI/FINLAND || 190 393 || 1 142.358 || 1 142.358 
 FR || FRANCE || 2 034 214 || 12 205.284 || 3 678.755** 
 HR || HRVATSKA || 43 301 || 259.805 || 259.805 
 HU || MAGYARORSZÁG || 94 876 || 569.258 || 569.258 
 IE || ÉIRE/IRELAND || 128 301 || 769.804 || 769.804 
 IS || ICELAND || 8 566 || 51.396 || 51.396 
 IT || ITALIA || 1 567 632 || 9 405.793 || 3 678.755** 
 LT || LIETUVA || 29 666 || 177.998 || 177.998 
 LU || LUXEMBOURG (G.D.) || 30 773 || 184.639 || 184.639 
 LV || LATVIJA || 20 319 || 121.912 || 121.912 
 ME || MONTENEGRO 2) || 3 234 || 19 405 || 19 405 
 MT || MALTA || 6 136 || 36.813 || 36.813 
 NL || NEDERLAND || 607 180 || 3 643.080 || 3 643.080 
 PL || POLSKA || 354 282 || 2 125.691 || 2 125.691 
 PT || PORTUGAL || 164 563 || 987.376 || 987.376 
 RO || ROMÂNIA || 129 607 || 777.644 || 777.644 
 SE || SVERIGE || 397 634 || 2 385.806 || 2 385.806 
 SI || SLOVENIJA || 35 670 || 214.021 || 214.021 
 SK || SLOVENSKO || 67 587 || 405.524 || 405.524 
 TR || TÜRKIYE || 416 062 || 2 496.370 || 2 496.370 
 UK || UNITED KINGDOM || 1 773 819 || 10 642.914 || 3 678.755** 
*
Rounded figures
**
~ € 3 billion in 2002 prices
1
Source: Eurostat
2
Source: GNI figures for Montenegro are not available, instead are used GDP
figures based on the AMECO database (Annual macro-economic database of the
European Commission's Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs/DG
ECFIN).
Annex II: EU Solidarity Fund - Pending
Applications from 2012 and New Applications received in 2013
 Year || 2012 || 2013 
 Applicant Country || RO || SI || HR || AT || PT || DE || AT || CZ || HU 
 Name and Nature of disaster || drought & fires 2012 || flooding 2012 || flooding 2012 || flooding Lavamünd 2012 || Madeira flash floods 2012 || flooding 2013 || flooding 2013 || flooding 2013 || flooding 2013 
 First damage date || 25/08/2012 || 28/10/2012 || 26/10/2012 || 05/11/2012 || 05/11/2012 || 18/05/2013 || 30/05/2013 || 02/06/2013 || 04/06/2013 
 Application deadline || 03/11/2012 || 06/01/2013 || 04/01/2013 || 14/01/2013 || 14/01/2013 || 27/07/2013 || 08/08/2013 || 11/08/2013 || 13/08/2013 
 Application date (reception at the Commission) || 02/11/2012 || 02/01/2013 || 03/01/2013 || 11/01/2013 || 14/01/2013 || 24/07/2013 || 06/08/2013 || 08/08/2013 || 13/08/2013 
 Complete information available on || 30/05/2013 || ~ || ~ || 28/02/2013 || ~ || ~ || 28/02/2013 || ~ || ~ 
 Major disaster threshold (m€) || 735.487 || 214.021 || 259.805 || 1 798.112 || 987.376 || 3 678.755 || 1 798.112 || 871.618 || 569.258 
 Total direct damage accepted by the Commission (m€) || 806.72 || 359.535 || 11.463 || 9.600 || 25.700 || 8 153.500 || 866.462 || 637.131 || 27.951 
 Category || major || major || neighbouring || neighbouring || regional || major || neighbouring || neighbouring || regional 
 Damage/threshold || 109.69% || 167.99% || 4.41% || 0.53% || 2.60% || 221.64% || 48.19% || 73.10% || 4.91% 
 Cost of eligible operations (m€) || 2.476 || 249.608 || 4.489 || 1.600 || 19.815 || 3 289.400 || 350.334 || 416.368 || 19.070 
 Eligible cost/ total damage || 0.31% || 69.43% || 39.16% || 16.67% || 77.10% || 40.34% || 40.43% || 65.35% || 68.23% 
 Aid/eligible cost || 100% || 5.64% || 6.38% || 15.00% || ~ || 10.96% || 6.18% || 3.83% || ~ 
 Aid rate (% of total damage) || 0.31% || 3.92% || 2.50% || 2.50% || ~ || 4.42% || 2.50% || 2.50% || ~ 
 Date of Grant Decision || 9/12/2013 || 4/10/2013 || 3/10/2013 || 4/10/2013 || rejected || 9/12/2013 || 9/12/2013 || 9/12/2013 || rejected 
 Date of Implementation Agreement (adopted) || 30/01/2014 || 15/10/2013 || 15/10/2013 || 15/10/2013 || ~ || 07/02/2014 || 22/01/2014 || 15/01/2014 || ~ 
 Aid granted (€) || 2 475 689 || 14 081 355 || 286 587 || 240 000 || ~ || 360 453 575 || 21 661 550 || 15 928 275 || ~ 
Annex
III: EU Solidarity Fund Applications since 2002

 Year || Country || Nature of the disaster || Damage (million EUR) || Category || Aid granted (million EUR) 
 2 0 0 2 || 1 || AT || Flooding || 2 900 || major || 134 
 2 || CZ || Flooding || 2 300 || major || 129 
 3 || FR || Flooding (Le Gard) || 835 || regional || 21 
 4 || DE || Flooding || 9 100 || major || 444 
 Total aid for 2002 applications ||   ||   || 728 
 2 0 0 3 || 1 || ES || Oil spill (Prestige) || 436 || regional || 8.626 
 2 || IT || Earthquake (Molise/Apulia) || 1 558 || regional || 30.826 
 3 || IT || Volcanic eruption (Etna) || 894 || regional || 16.798 
 4 || IT || Flooding (North Italy) || (1 900) || (major) || Rejected 
 5 || GR || Adverse winter weather || (not clear) || (major/unclear) || Rejected 
 6 || PT || Forest fires || 1 228 || major || 48.539 
 7 || FR || Forest fires (Southern France) || 531 || (regional) || Rejected 
 8 || ES || Forest fires (Portuguese border) || 53 || neighbouring || 1.331 
 9 || MT || Flooding || 30 || major || 0.961 
 10 || IT || Flooding (Friuli Venezia-Giulia) || (525) || (regional) || Rejected 
 Total aid for 2003 applications ||   ||   || 107.081 
 2 0 0 4 || 1 || FR || Flooding (Rhone delta) || 785 || regional || 19.625 
 2 || ES || Flooding (Malaga) || (73) || (regional) || Rejected 
 3-9 || ES || Forest fires (7 applications) || (480) || (regional) || all 7 rejected 
 10 || SK || Flooding || (29) || (regional) || Rejected 
 11 || SI || Earthquake || (13) || (regional) || withdrawn 
 Total aid for 2004 applications ||   ||   || 19.625 
 2 0 0 5 || 1 || SK || Storm (Tatras) || 203 || major || 5.668 
 2 || IT || Flooding (Sardinia) || (223. over-estimated) || (regional) || Rejected 
 3 || EE || Storm || 48 || major || 1.29 
 4 || LV || Storm || 193 || major || 9.487 
 5 || SE || Storm "Gudrun" || 2 297 || major || 81.725 
 6 || LT || Storm || 15 || neighbouring || 0.379 
 7 || GR || Evros flooding || (112) || (regional) || Rejected 
 8 || RO || Spring flooding || 489 || major || 18.798 
 9 || BG || Spring flooding || 222 || major || 9.722 
 10 || BG || Summer flooding || 237 || major || 10.632 
 11 || RO || Summer flooding || 1 050 || major || 52.4 
 12 || AT || Flooding (Tyrol/Vorarlberg) || 592 || regional || 14.799 
 Total aid for 2005 applications ||   ||   || 204.905 
 Year || Country || Nature of the disaster || Damage (million EUR) || Category || Aid granted (million EUR) 
 2 0 0 6 || 1 || UK || Buncefield oil depot explosion || (700) || (regional) || withdrawn 
 2 || GR || Evros flooding || 372 || regional || 9.306 
 3 || HU || Flooding || 519 || major || 15.064 
 4 || ES || Galicia forest fires || (91) || (regional) || Rejected 
 Total aid for 2006 applications ||   ||   || 24.370 
 2 0 0 7 || 1 || DE || Storm "Kyrill" || 4750 || major || 166.9 
 2 || FR || La Réunion. Cyclone "Gamede" || 211 || regional || 5.29 
 3 || ES || El Hierro flooding || (18) || (regional) || Rejected 
 4 || ES || La Mancha flooding || (66) || (regional) || Rejected 
 5 || UK || Flooding || 4 612 || major || 162.387 
 6 || CY || Forest fires || (38) || (regional) || Rejected 
 7 || ES || Forest Fires Canary islands || (144) || (regional) || Rejected 
 8-16 || IT || 9 applications for forest fires in 9 regions || - || (regional) || not admissible. deadline missed 
 17 || FR || Storm Dean/Martinique || 509 || regional || 12.78 
 18 || GR || Forest fires || 2 118 || major || 89.769 
 19 || SI || Flooding || 233 || major || 8.254 
 Total aid for 2007 applications ||   ||   || 445.380 
 2 0 0 8 || 1 || CY || Drought || 165.4 || major || 7.605 
 2 || RO || Floods || 471.4 || regional || 11.785 
 Total aid for 2008 applications ||   ||   || 19.390 
 || 2 0 0 9 || 1 || FR || Storm Klaus || 3 805.5 || major || 109.377 
 || 2 || IT || Abruzzo earthquake || 10 212.0 || major || 493.771 
 || 3 || GR || Forest fires || (152.8) || (regional) || Rejected 
 || 4 || CY || Storms || (2.6) || (regional) || Rejected 
 || 5 || GR || Evia floods || (83.2) || (regional) || Rejected 
 || 6 || IT || Messina Mudslide || (598.9) || (regional) || Rejected 
 || Total aid for 2009 applications ||   ||   || 603.148 
 || 2 0 1 0 || 1 || IE || Flooding 2009 || 520.9 || regional || 13.022 
 || 2 || IT || Tuscany flooding || (211.7) || (regional) || Rejected 
 || 3 || ES || Andalusia flooding || (709.7) || (regional) || Rejected 
 || 4 || PT || Madeira mud- and landslides || 1 080 || major || 31.256 
 || 5 || FR || Storm Xynthia || 1 425 || regional || 35.636 
 || 6 || SK || Flooding || 649.9 || major || 20.431 
 || 7 || PL || Flooding || 2 993.7 || major || 105.567 
 || 8 || CZ || Flooding (spring) || 204.5 || neighbouring || 5.111 
 || 9 || HU || Flooding || 719.3 || major || 22.486 
 || 10 || HR || Flooding (spring) || 153.04 || neighbouring || 3.826 
 Year || Country || Nature of the disaster || Damage (million EUR) || Category || Aid granted (million EUR) 
 2 0 1 0 || 11 || FR || Var flooding || (703-778) || (regional) || Rejected 
 12 || RO || Flooding || 875.75 || major || 24.968 
 13 || CZ || Flooding (autumn) || 436.5 || regional || 10.912 
 14 || DE || Sachsen Flooding || (937.7) || (regional) || Rejected 
 15 || HR || Flooding (autumn) || 47 || neighbouring || 1.175 
 16 || SI || Flooding (autumn) || 251.3 || major || 7.460 
 17 || HU || Red Sludge Spill || (174.32) || (regional) || Rejected 
 Total aid for 2010 applications ||   ||   || 281.849 
 2 0 1 1 || 1 || IT || Veneto Flooding 2010 || 676.36 || regional || 16.909 
 2 || ES || Lorca earthquake 2011 || 842.84 || regional || 21.071 
 3 || CY || Naval base explosion 2011 || (357) || (major/non-natural) || Rejected 
 4 || IT || Liguria & Tuscany flooding 2011 || 722.5 || regional || 18.062 
 Total aid for 2011 applications ||   ||   || 56.042 
 2 0 1 2 || 1 || IT || Severe weather conditions 2012 || (2 735) || (regional) || Rejected 
 2 || IT || Series of earthquakes 2012 || 13 274 || major || 670.192 
 3 || ES || Valencia forest fires 2012 || (155.7) || (regional) || Rejected 
 4 || ES || Canary Island fires 2012 || (72.2) || (regional) || Rejected 
 5 || RO || Drought & fires 2012 || 806.7 || major || 2.475 
 6 || ES || Malaga fires 2012 || (22.43) || (regional) || withdrawn 
 7 || ES || Andalucía, Murcia, Valencia flooding 2012 || (409) || (regional) || Rejected 
 Total aid for 2012 applications ||   ||   || 672.667 
 2 0 1 3 || 1 || SI || Flooding 2012 || 359.5 || major || 14.081 
 2 || HR || Flooding 2012 || 11.5 || neighbouring || 0.287 
 3 || AT || Flooding 2012 || 9.6 || neighbouring || 0.240 
 4 || PT || Madeira mud- and landslides 2012 || (25.7) || (regional) || Rejected 
 5 || DE || Flooding 2013 || 8 153.5 || major || 360.454 
 6 || AT || Flooding 2013 || 866.4 || neighbouring || 21.662 
 7 || CZ || Flooding 2013 || 637.1 || neighbouring || 15.928 
 8 || HU || Flooding 2013 || (28) || (regional) || Rejected 
 Total aid for 2013 applications ||   ||   || 412.652 
 Grand total of aid approved since 2002 || EUR 3 575.119000 million