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 Greece, Spain, France and Portugal
Date: 2018-02-22
Institutions: Directorate-General for Budget, European Commission
Subjects: France, Greece, Portugal, Spain, aid to disaster victims, commitment of expenditure, fund (EU), general budget (EU), natural disaster, payment appropriation

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 22.2.2018 COM(2018) 150 final  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 Greece, Spain, France and Portugal  
 
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

This decision covers the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for an 
amount  of  EUR 104 166 951  to  provide  assistance  to  Greece,  France,  Portugal  and  Spain 
further to disasters that took place in these countries in the course of 2017. This mobilisation 
is  accompanied  by  Draft  Amending  Budget  (DAB)  No 1/20181  that  proposes  to  enter  the 
necessary  appropriations  in  the  general  budget  2018,  both  in  commitments  and  payments, 
after having deducted the advance already paid (EUR 6 520 846).  

2. 

INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS 

2.1 

Greece – Earthquakes in Lesbos 

On  12 June 2017,  an  earthquake  with  a  magnitude  of  6,3  on  the  Richter  scale  affected  the 
island  of  Lesbos  in  the  Northern  Aegean.  A  multitude  of  aftershocks  followed  causing 
damage to private homes, businesses and local infrastructure. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

Greece  applied  for  a  contribution  from  the  EUSF  on  1 September 2017,  within  the 
deadline of 12 weeks following the first occurrence of damage. 

The disaster is of natural origin. 

The  Greek  authorities  estimate  the  total  direct  damage  at  EUR 54,4 million.  The 
application was presented on the basis of the criteria for a 'regional natural disaster' 
as  laid  down  in  Article  2(3)  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2012/2002  of 
11 November 2002  establishing  the  European  Union  Solidarity  Fund2  (hereafter 
referred  to  as  "the  Regulation")  which  defines  a  'regional  natural  disaster'  as  any 
natural  disaster  resulting  in  a  region  at  NUTS  level  2  of  an  eligible  State  in  direct 
damage  in  excess  of  1,5 %  of  that  region's  gross  domestic  product  (GDP).  The 
damage caused on Lesbos represents 2,14 % of the GDP of the concerned Northern 
Aegean3  NUTS  2  level  region  and  thus  exceeds  the  threshold  of  1,5 %  of  regional 
GDP laid down in the Regulation. 

In its application Greece requested the payment of an advance as laid down in Article 
4a  of  the  Regulation.  On  24 October 2017  the  Commission  adopted  Implementing 
Decision C(2017) 7203 awarding a 10 % advance of EUR 135 912 on the anticipated 
financial contribution from the EUSF and subsequently paid it out in full to Greece 
on 9 November 2017. 

In their application the Greek authorities describe in detail the situation following the 
earthquake  and  the  efforts  made  to  assist  the  affected  population.  Greece  reported 
that  twelve  villages  in  Lesbos  were  damaged  by  the  earthquake.  Over  half  of  the 
village of Vrisa was destroyed and its 850 residents were evacuated for a long period 
of  time  due  to  the  intense  aftershocks.  Repairs  were  considered  necessary  for  776 
houses  and  200  houses  had  to  be  rebuilt.  In  addition,  schools  in  the  affected  area 
remained closed. The dome of the church of St. Panteleimonas in Plomari collapsed. 
Landslides closed the main road between Mytilini and Plomari at Agios Isidoros and 
the road to Melinta. Significant damage was also caused to historical sites, including 

1 
2 
3 

COM(2018) 155, 22.2.2018. 
OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3. 
EL41 = Regional GDP for Voreio Aigaio/Northern Aegean is EUR 2 545 million based on 2014 data. 

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(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(10) 

(11) 

the  Museum  of  Natural  History  of  the  National  and  Kapodistrian  University  of 
Athens  in  Vrisa.  Minor  damage  occurred  in  the  town  of  Chios  and  the  village  of 
Kampos. 

Greece  estimated  the  cost  of  emergency  and  recovery  operations  eligible  under 
Article 3(2) of the Regulation at EUR 12,7 million.  

The Greek authorities confirmed that there is no insurance coverage of eligible costs.  

The  affected  region  is  part  of  the  'transition  regions'  under  the  European  Structural 
and Investment Funds (2014-2020). In their application the Greek authorities did not 
signal  to  the  Commission  the  intention  to  reallocate  funding  from  the  ESI  Funds 
programmes towards recovery measures. 

Greece did not activate the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.  

As  regards  the  implementation  of  Union  legislation  on  disaster  risk  prevention  and 
management, there is currently no infringement procedure on-going.  

Based  on  the  strong  earthquakes  that  hit  Greece  between  1978-1981,  the  Greek 
government  decided  to  create  a  natural  disaster  risk  prevention  and  management 
framework,  with  the  aim  of  improving  resilience  in  local  communities  via  a 
framework for implementing policies to reduce known risks, managing the impact of 
earthquakes, and procedures/action to prevent new risks. The Greek system of anti-
seismic  civil  protection  is  based  on  policies  revolving  mainly  around  vulnerability 
reduction,  by  preventing  and  mitigating  risk  (and  damage)  and  tackling  emergency 
situations and the consequences of disasters. 

2.2 

France – Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Saint Martin and Guadeloupe 

On 5 and 6 September 2017, a category 5 hurricane named Irma of unprecedented violence, 
travelled north-west through the Caribbean, killing and injuring a great number of people and 
leaving  a  trail  of  destruction  behind.  The  eye  of  hurricane  Irma  crossed  the  island  of  Saint 
Martin/Sint  Maarteen  with  an  average  speed  of  290-295 km/h  destroying  over  90 %  of  the 
island.  Only  two  weeks  later  on  18  and  19  September  hurricane  Maria,  another  category 
5 hurricane resulting from the same meteorological and climatic conditions as Irma, crossed 
the  Caribbean  and  again  caused  significant  damage  on  Saint  Martin/Sint  Maarten, 
Guadeloupe and parts of Martinique. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

France  applied  for  a  financial  contribution  from  the  EUSF  on  27 November 2017 
within the deadline of 12 weeks after the first damage was recorded. 

The disaster is of natural origin. 

The  French  authorities  estimate  the  total  direct  damage  caused  by  the  disaster  at 
EUR 1 956,2 million. The application was presented on the basis of the criteria for a 
'regional natural disaster' as laid down in Article 2(3) of the Regulation. The French 
application  relates  to  one  single  NUTS  level  2  region,  encompassing  Saint-Martin 
and  Guadeloupe.  As  this  region  has  outermost  region  status  within  the  meaning  of 
Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, a lower damage 
threshold  of  1 %  of  regional  GDP  applies.  The  reported  direct  damage  represents 
21,9 %  of  the  region’s  GDP4  and  exceeds  by  far  the  applicable  1 %-threshold  for 
outermost regions laid down in the Regulation. 

4 

EUR 8 928 million based on 2014 data. 

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(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

In its application France requested the payment of an advance as laid down in Article 
4a of the Regulation. On 12 December 2017 the Commission adopted Implementing 
Decision  C(2017) 8726  awarding  a  10 %  advance  of  EUR 4 890 603 on  the 
anticipated  financial  contribution  from  the  EUSF.  The  advance  was  paid  out  to 
France  in  two  instalments  in  December  2017  (EUR 2 369 757)  and  January  2018 
(EUR 2 520 846). 

In their application the French authorities describe in detail the scale of destruction 
caused by the two hurricanes.The force of 'Irma', a category 5 hurricane with average 
winds over 275 km/h for over 3 days, was unprecedented. Less than two weeks later, 
hurricane 'Maria' hit the Caribbean again, causing damage mainly on Guadeloupe. At 
least 35 people have been reported dead in the Caribbean. At the height of the crisis, 
nearly  3 000  firefighters,  rescue  workers,  doctors,  gendarmes  and  soldiers  were 
deployed to the affected areas to participate in relief efforts, assistance and protection 
of the population. 226 tons of food and 735 000 litres of water were distributed to the 
population.  Housing  modules  were  deployed 
to  ensure  acceptable  housing 
conditions.  On  Saint-Martin  90 %  of  the  island's  buildings  were  damaged  by  the 
wind gusts of which 25 % were totally destroyed and 40 % will need structural work. 
The  economy  of  the  island  is  mainly  based  on  tourism.  Because  of  the  hurricane 
long-term unemployment in the sector is expected while overall unemployment rates 
are  increasing  dramatically.  In  Guadeloupe,  after  the  passage  of  hurricane  Maria 
during  the  night  of  18  to  19 September 2017,  all  state  services  were  mobilised  to 
clear the roads, rescue and help the population to return to normal living conditions. 
For days some 60 000 households in Guadeloupe were without power and water was 
cut  off  in  many  areas.  Many  banana  plantations,  one  of  the  important  sources  of 
income on Guadeloupe, were significantly destroyed and it will take two years to get 
back to full production. 

France  estimated  the  cost  of  emergency  and  recovery  operations  eligible  under 
Article 3(2) of the Regulation at EUR 191,4 million.  

The  French  authorities  confirmed  that  there  is  no  insurance  coverage  of  eligible 
costs. 

The  affected  outermost  regions  are  "less  developed  regions"  under  the  European 
Structural and Investment Funds (2014-2020). The French authorities signalled to the 
Commission  their  intention  to  reallocate  funding  from  the  ESI  Funds  programmes 
towards recovery measures. 

At  the  request  of  France  the  Union  Civil  Protection  Mechanism  was  activated. 
Moreover, the Commission mobilised an amount of EUR 2,4 million for immediate 
humanitarian  assistance  for  the  islands  of  the  region  affected  by  hurricane  Irma. 
Furthermore,  the  Copernicus  satellite  mapping  tool  was  employed  to  support  relief 
efforts. 

(10) 

As  regards  the  implementation  of  Union  legislation  on  disaster  risk  prevention  and 
management, there is currently no infringement procedure on-going. 

2.3 

Portugal – Forest fires in Centro 

Between  June  and  October 2017,  Portugal  suffered  several  waves  of  large  forest  fires 
triggered by high temperatures, strong winds and extreme low humidity. These fires affected 
mainly  Portugal's  Central  and  Northern  regions  and  had  a  devastating  effect  causing  the 
destruction of essential public infrastructure, public buildings, private homes, businesses and 
destroying agricultural and forest land. 

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(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(10) 

(11) 

The first wave of fires in the Centro region started on 17 June 2017. Very rapidly, on 
17 July 2017,  and  well  within  the  12  week  application  deadline  Portugal  submitted 
its  initial  application  for  a  contribution  from  the  EUSF.  However,  Portugal  was 
struck  again  by  severe  fires  between  July  and  October.  To  take  account  of  those 
events, Portugal submitted updates to their application on 13 October 2017 and again 
on  14  December  2017  including  a  revised  estimate  of  the  cumulated  amount  of 
damage caused by the fires between June and October 2017. 

The disaster is of natural origin. 

In their final application the Portuguese authorities estimate the total direct damage 
caused  by  the  fires  from  June  to  October  at  EUR 1 458,0 million.  The  application 
was submitted as a 'major natural disaster' under Article 2(2) of the Regulation. This 
amount  represents  0,832 %  of  Portugal's  GNI,  and  exceeds  the  major  disaster 
threshold  for  mobilising  the  Solidarity  Fund  of  EUR 1 051,6 million  in  2017  (i.e. 
0,6 % of Portugal's GNI). The disaster therefore qualifies as a 'major natural disaster' 
and thus falls within the field of application of  the Regulation. 

In  its  application  Portugal  requested  the  payment  of  an  advance  as  laid  down  in 
Article  4a  of  the  Regulation.  On  9 November 2017  the  Commission  adopted 
Implementing Decision C(2017) 7517 awarding an advance of EUR 1 494 331. This 
amount was based on the initial damage estimate of July 2017 and represented 10 % 
of the financial contribution from the EUSF anticipated at that moment. The advance 
was paid out in full to Portugal on 29 November 2017. 

In their application the Portuguese authorities describe in detail the efforts made to 
fight  the  fires,  as  well  as  the  effects  and  consequences  of  the  disaster.  The  fires 
mainly  affected  the  central  and  nothern  regions  during  the  period  between  17  June 
and 17 October 2017. The Pedrógão Grande fire of June alone led to the loss of 64 
human  lives.  Overall,  the  fires  killed  some  one  hundred  people;  many  more  were 
injured. The impact on daily life and private property was significant. The vast burnt 
area  of  the  fire  events  described  in  the  application  was  mapped  in  the  European 
Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). According to EFFIS the extent of the burnt 
area severely affected was 491 094 hectares, of which 89 419 hectares of agricultural 
land and 401 675 hecatres of forest and other wood land.  

Portugal  estimated  the  cost  of  emergency  and  recovery  operations  eligible  under 
Article 3(2) of the Regulation at EUR 211,0 million.  

The Portuguese authorities confirmed that there is no insurance coverage of eligible 
costs. 

The affected regions are "less developed regions" under the European Structural and 
Investment  Funds  (2014-2020).  The  Portuguese  authorities  signalled  to  the 
Commission  their  intention  to  reallocate  funding  from  the  ESI  Funds  programmes 
towards recovery measures. 

Following  a  request  from  Portugal  the  Union  Civil  Protection  Mechanism  was 
activated to help combat the fires. 

As  regards  the  implementation  of  Union  legislation  on  disaster  risk  prevention  and 
management, there is currently no infringement procedure on-going.  

The Portuguese application gives an overview of prevention measures in place. For 
instance,  Resolution  n°56/2015  of  Council  of  Ministers  published  in  the  Official 
Journal  of  the  Portuguese  Republic  n°147  of  30 July 2015,  approving  the  Strategic 

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Framework for Climate Policy, the National Programme for Climate Change and the 
National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, strategic documents which are 
in line with the EU legislation for the prevention and management of risks related to 
forest fire disasters. 

2.4 

Spain – Forest fires in Galicia 

Large  wildfires  broke  out  in  north-western  Spain  in  the  region  of  Galicia  during  the  period 
between  10 and 17 October 2017.  The  fires  were  triggered  by  the  same  meteorological 
conditions as in Portugal, i.e. high temperatures, winds and extreme low humidity. The fires 
caused  considerable  destruction  of  essential  public  infrastructure,  private  homes,  businesses 
and forest land. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

Spain  applied  for  a  contribution  from  the  EUSF  on  22 December 2017  within  the 
deadline of 12 weeks after the first damage was recorded on 10 October 2017.  

The disaster is of natural origin. 

The  Spanish  authorities  estimate  the  total  direct  damage  caused  by  the  disaster  at 
EUR 129,1 million. This amount is considerably below the major disaster threshold 
applicable  to  Spain  in  2017  of  EUR  3 378,5 million  (i.e.  EUR 3 billion  in  2011 
prices).  It  also  remains  below  the  threshold  for  a  so-called  regional  disaster,  i.e. 
1,5 % of regional gross domestic product, which for Galicia is EUR 808 million. The 
disaster therefore does neither qualify as a 'major natural disaster' nor as a 'regional 
natural disaster' under the terms of the Regulation. However, Spain was affected by 
the  same  meteorological  conditions  which  caused  the  major  disaster  in  Portugal. 
Therefore,  the  Spanish  authorities  presented  their  application  under  the  so  called 
'neighbouring  country  provision'  laid  down  in  Article  2(4)  of  the  Regulation, 
whereby  an  eligible  country  affected  by  the  same  disaster  qualifying  as  a  major 
disaster in a neighbouring eligible country may also benefit from EUSF aid.  

In  their  application  the  Spanish  authorities  requested  the  payment  of  an  advance. 
Given the low level of the damage and of the anticipated amount of aid the payment 
of an advance was not justified.  

The Spanish authorities provided a detailed description of the impact of the disaster. 
The  burnt  area  claimed  amounts  to  49 171  ha  of  forest  and  shrub  land,  including 
Natura  2000  sites.  Rescue  services  included  over  300 staff  and  112  cars.  487 
volunteers were  mobilised  with  the  help  to  extinguish  the  fires.  The  number  of  the 
population  affected  by  the  fires  is  96 730  persons.  Four  people  lost  their  lives.  In 
total, 151 municipalities out of 315 in Galicia were affected. In economic terms the 
forest  sector  suffered  the  most  with  total  direct  damage  estimated  alone  at  over 
EUR 93,4 million. Spain quickly reacted to the most urgent needs of the population 
affected  by  the  fires,  such  as  providing  social  support,  temporary  accommodation 
and essential emergency and recovery operations of infrastructure. 

Spain estimated the cost of emergency and recovery operations eligible under Article 
3(2) of the Regulation at EUR 18,7 million.  

The  Spanish  authorities  confirmed  that  there  is  no  insurance  coverage  of  eligible 
costs. 

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(8) 

(9) 

(10) 

(11) 

The  affected  region  Galicia  is  a  "more  developed  region"  under  the  European 
Structural  and  Investment  Funds  (2014-2020).  In  their  application  the  Spanish 
authorities did not signal to the Commission the intention to reallocate funding from 
the ESI Funds programmes towards recovery measures. 

Spain did not request the activation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. 

As  regards  the  implementation  of  Union  legislation  on  disaster  risk  prevention  and 
management, there is currently no infringement procedure on-going.  

In  its  application  Spain  refers  to  Decision  No 1313/2013/EU  of  the  European 
Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  17 December 2013  on  a  Union  Civil  Protection 
Mechanism. The territorial plan of emergencies for Galicia (PLATERGA) provides 
for  a  set  of  rules  and  procedures  for  action  and  prevention  by  the  public 
administrations to combat any emergency situation that occurs in Galicia. Moreover, 
a  special  plan  of  civil  protection  against  forest  fire  emergencies  called  PEIFOGA 
exists and was updated in 2015. 

2.5 

Conclusion 

For  the  reasons  set  out  above,  the  disasters  referred  to  in  the  applications  submitted  by 
Greece,  France,  Portugal  and  Spain  meet  the  conditions  set  out  in  the  Regulation  for 
mobilising the EUSF. 

3. 

FINANCING FROM THE EUSF ALLOCATIONS 2018 

Council  Regulation  (EU,  EURATOM)  No  1311/2013  of  2 December 2013  laying  down  the 
multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-20205 (hereafter "the MFF regulation"), 
and in particular Article 10 thereof allows for the mobilisation of the EUSF, within an annual 
ceiling  of  EUR 500 000 000  (2011  prices).  Point  11  of  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of 
2 December 2013  between  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  on 
budgetary  discipline,  on  cooperation  on  budgetary  matters  and  on  sound  financial 
management6 (IIA) lays down the modalities for the mobilisation of the EUSF. 

As solidarity was the central justification for the creation of the EUSF, the Commission takes 
the view that aid should be progressive. That means that, according to previous practice, the 
portion  of  the  damage  exceeding  the  “major  natural  disaster”  threshold  for  mobilising  the 
EUSF  (i.e.  0,6 %  of  GNI  or  EUR 3 billion  in  2011  prices,  whichever  is  the  lower  amount) 
should give rise to higher aid intensity than damage up to the threshold. The rate applied in 
the past for defining the allocations for major disasters is 2,5 % of total direct damage under 
the threshold and 6 % for the part of the damage above. For regional disasters and disasters 
accepted under the “neighbouring country” provision the rate is 2,5 %. 

The  contribution  may  not  exceed  the  estimated  total  cost  of  eligible  operations.  The 
methodology for calculating the aid was set out in the 2002-2003 Annual Report on the EUSF 
and accepted by the Council and the European Parliament. 

On the basis of the applications from Greece, France, Portugal and Spain, the calculation of 
the  financial  contribution  from  the  EUSF,  based  on  the  estimate  of  total  direct  damages 
caused is as follows: 

5 
6 

OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884. 
OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1. 

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Member 
States 

GREECE 

FRANCE 

PORTUGAL 

SPAIN 

Regional  
(Art. 2(3)) 
Regional  
(Art. 2(3)) 
Major 
(Art. 2(2)) 
Regional 
(Art. 2(4)) 

TOTAL 

Qualification 
of disaster 

Total direct 
damage 

Major disaster 
threshold 

2,5% of direct 
damage up to 
threshold  

(million EUR) 

(million EUR) 

(EUR) 

6% of direct 
damage 
above 
threshold 

(EUR) 

54,365 

1 057,800 

1 359 119 

1 956,241 

3 378,487 

48 906 025 

- 

- 

Total amount 
of aid proposed 

Advances 
paid 

(EUR) 

(EUR) 

1 359 119 

135 912 

48 906 025 

4 890 603 

1 457,966 

1 051,566 

26 289 150  

24 383 982    

50 673 132 

1 494 331 

129,147 

3 378,487 

3 228 675 

- 

3 228 675 

104 166 951 

6 520 846 

In  accordance  with  Article  10(1)  of  the  MFF  regulation,  the  total  amount  available  for  the 
mobilisation of the EUSF at the beginning of 2018 was EUR 421 142 057, being the sum of 
the  remaining  2018  allocation  of  EUR 280 371 754  (i.e.  EUR 574 342 834  minus 
EUR 293 971 080  already  mobilised  in  20177),  plus  the  remaining  2017  allocation  of 
EUR 140 770 303 that remained unspent and was carried over to 2018. 

The amount that may be  mobilised at this stage of the year 2018 is EUR 277 556 348. This 
corresponds to the total amount available for the mobilisation of the EUSF at the beginning of 
2018 (EUR 421 142 057), minus the retained amount of EUR 143 585 709 in order to respect 
the  obligation  of  keeping  aside  25 %  of  the  2018  annual  allocation  until  1  October  2018  as 
stipulated by Article 10(1) of the MFF regulation.  

EUSF financing summary table 

2017 allocation carried forward to 2018 

2018 allocation 

2018 allocation frontloaded in 2017 in accordance with Article 10(2) of the MFF regulation 

Total available at the beginning of 2018 

Minus already mobilised in 2018 

Minus 25% of the 2018 allocation retained 

Maximum amount currently available (2017+2018 allocations) 

Total amount of aid proposed to Greece, France Portugal and Spain 

Remaining availabilities until 1 October 2018 

Amount 

EUR 

140 770 303 

574 342 834 

-293 971 080 
---------------- 

421 142 057 

- 

-143 585 709 
---------------- 

277 556 348 

104 166 951 

173 389 387 

7 

Decision (EU) 2017/1599 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2017 on the 
mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Italy. 

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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 
Greece, Spain, France and Portugal 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

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 Fund8, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof, 

Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European 
Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  on  budgetary  discipline,  on  cooperation  in 
budgetary matters and on sound financial management9, and in particular point 11 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

8 
9 
10 

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 natural disasters. 

The  Fund  is  not  to  exceed  a  maximum  annual  amount  of  EUR 500 000 000  (2011 
prices),  as  laid  down  in  Article  10  of  Council  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  No 
1311/201310. 

On  1 September 2017,  Greece  submitted  an  application  to  mobilise  the  Fund, 
following an earthquake that affected the island of Lesbos in the Northern Aegean on 
12 June 2017. 

On 22 December 2017, Spain submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following 
wildfires  in  north-western  Spain  in  the  region  of  Galicia  during  the  period 
10 to 17 October 2017. 

On  27 November 2017,  France  submitted  an  application  to  mobilise  the  Fund, 
island  of  Saint  Martin  on 
the 
Irma 
following  hurricane 
5 and 6 September 2017  and  hurricane  Maria 
struck  Guadeloupe  on 
that 
18 and 19 September 2017. 

that  crossed 

On 17 July 2017, Portugal submitted its initial application for a contribution from the 
Fund  following  severe  fires  that  broke  out  on  17 June 2017.  However,  following 
additional  fires  that  hit  Portugal  in  the  period  from  June  to  October  2017,  Portugal 
its  application  on  13 October 2017  and  again  on 
submitted  updates 

to 

OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3. 
OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p.1. 
Council  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  No  1311/2013  of  2  December  2013  laying  down  the  multiannual 
financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884). 

EN 

9 

  EN 

 
                                                 
14 December 2017 including a revised estimate of the cumulative amount of damage 
caused by the fires between June and October 2017. 

The  applications  by  Greece,  Spain,  France  and  Portugal  meet  the  conditions  for 
providing  a  financial  contribution  from  the  Fund,  as  laid  down  in  Article  4  of 
Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002. 

The Fund should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution to 
Greece, France, Portugal and Spain. 

In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, this Decision should apply 
from the date of its adoption, 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

Article 1 

For  the  general  budget  of  the  Union  for  the  financial  year  2018,  the  European  Union 
Solidarity  Fund  shall  be  mobilised  to  provide  the  amount  of  EUR 1 359 119  to  Greece, 
EUR 3 228 675  to  Spain,  EUR 48 906 025  to  France  and  EUR 50 673 132  to  Portugal,  in 
commitment and payment appropriations. 

Article 2 

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union. 
It shall apply from … [the date of its adoption]. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the European Parliament 

For the Council 

 Date to be inserted by the Parliament before the publication in OJ. 

EN 

10 

  EN