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 Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland
Date: 2018-05-31
Institutions: Directorate-General for Budget, European Commission
Subjects: Aegean Islands, Bulgaria, European Union Solidarity Fund, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, aid to disaster victims, commitment of expenditure, general budget (EU), natural disaster

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 31.5.2018 COM(2018) 360 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 Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland  
 
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

This  decision  covers  the  mobilisation  of  the  European  Union  Solidarity  Fund  (EUSF)  in 
accordance  with  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2012/2002  of  11 November 20021  (hereafter 
refered  to  as  the  'Regulation')  for  an  amount  of  EUR 33 992 206  to  provide  assistance  to 
Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland further to disasters that took place in these countries 
in the course of 2017. This mobilisation is accompanied by Draft Amending Budget (DAB) 
No 4/20182 that proposes to enter the necessary appropriations in the general budget 2018.  

2. 

INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS 

2.1 

Bulgaria – flooding 

On  25  and  26 October 2017  the  south-eastern  part  of  Bulgaria  experienced  unusual  intense 
rainfall and violent storms causing damage to bridges, drainage channels and retaining walls 
and the basic infrastructure. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

Bulgaria  applied  for  a  contribution  from  the  Solidarity  Fund  on  11 January 2018, 
within  the  deadline  of  12  weeks  after  the  first  damage  was  recorded  on 
25 October 2017. The application was submitted as a 'regional disaster' under Article 
2(3) of the Regulation. 

The disaster is of natural origin and therefore falls within the field of application of 
the EUSF. 

The Bulgarian authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at 
EUR 90,3 million. The application was presented on the basis  of the provisions  for 
'regional  disasters'  laid  down  in  Article  2(3)  of  the  Regulation  which  defines  a 
'regional 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 GDP. The damage 
caused  by  the  flooding  in  Burgas  represents  1,6 %  of  the  GDP  of  the  relevant 
Yugoiztochen NUTS level 2 region3 and therefore exceeds the 1,5 % threshold laid 
down  in  the  Regulation.  The  application  from  Bulgaria  is  therefore  eligible  for  a 
contribution from the EUSF. 

In  their  application  the  Bulgarian  authorities  requested  the  payment  of  an  advance. 
Following  a  preliminary  assessment  of  the  application,  the  Commission  considered 
that  the  claimed  amount  of  damage  which  only  marginally  exceeds  the  eligibility 
threshold required a more thorough assessment and that the payment of an advance is 
therefore not justified. 

The Bulgarian application gives a detailed description of the meteorological situation 
and effects of the storm. Between 25 and 26 October 2017 intense and heavy rainfall, 
strong  winds  and  storm  surge  from  the  Black  Sea  hit  the  territory  of  the  Burgas 
district  creating  a  critical  situation.  The  state  of  emergency  was  declared  and  the 
Regional Plan for Disaster Protection was put in operation. The flood took 5 victims 

1 
2 
3 

OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3. 
COM(2018) 361, 31.5.2018. 
BG34 = Regional GDP for Yugoiztochen is EUR 5 327 million based on 2015 data. 

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and  affected  some  6 000  people,  142  residential  and  over  1 200  non-residential 
properties  were  flooded.  High  river  waters  and  tidal  waves  flooded  bridges  and 
destroyed  road  infrastructure,  drainage  channels,  drains  and  retaining  walls, 
including  the  national  road  network.  Municipal  infrastructure  including  roads, 
bridges, water pipes, supporting walls, drainage protection, dykes, riverbeds, health 
and  child  care  infrastructure  were  damaged  or  destroyed.  The  regional  solid  waste 
landfill  was  heavily  damaged  and  temporarily  decommissioned.  The  waste  water 
treatment plant in Dolno Ezerovo was flooded and temporarily not functioning. 

Bulgaria  estimated  the  cost  of  emergency  and  recovery  operations  eligible  under 
Article 3(2) of the Regulation at EUR 90,1 million and presented it broken down by 
type of operation. The by far largest share of eligible costs (almost EUR 65 million) 
concerns the transport sector. 

The Bulgarian authorities declared that 0,33 % of eligible cost are insured. They may 
therefore not receive a contribution form the EUSF. 

The affected regions are 'less developed regions' under the European Structural and 
Investment (ESI) Funds (2014-2020). The Bulgarian authorities did not signal to the 
Commission  their  intention  to  reallocate  funding  from  the  ESI  Funds  programmes 
towards recovery measures. 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

Bulgaria did not activate the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.  

(10) 

(11) 

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

The  Bulgarian  application  provides  a  short  description  of  the  implementation  of 
Union legislation on disaster risk prevention and management related to the nature of 
the  disaster.  Accordingly,  Directive  2000/60/EC  (Water  Framework  Directive)  and 
Directive  2007/60/EC  (Floods  Directive)  were  transposed  into  the  Bulgarian  Water 
Act.  Council  Directive  2008/114/EC  on  critical  infrastructures  was  transposed  into 
the Bulgarian Disaster Protection Act. 

2.2 

Greece – earthquake on the island of Kos 2017 

On  20 July 2017,  an  earthquake  with  a  magnitude  of  6,6  on  the  Richter  scale  affected  the 
South Aegean region between Bodrum (Turkey) and the island of Kos (Greece) followed by a 
multitude of aftershocks. The ensuing damage mostly affected public infrastructure and assets 
as well as important cultural heritage sites. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Greece  applied  for  a  contribution  from  the  EUSF  on  11 October 2017,  within  the 
deadline  of  12  weeks  after  the  first  damage  was  recorded  on  21 July 2017.  The 
application  was  submitted  as  a  'regional  disaster'  under  Article  2(3)  of  the 
Regulation.  On  9 March 2018,  following  a  request  from  the  Commission,  Greece 
provided additional information necessary to complete the assessment of this case. 

The disaster is of natural origin and therefore falls within the field of application of 
the EUSF. 

The  Greek  authorities  estimate  the  total  direct  damage  caused  by  the  disaster  at 
EUR 101,4 million. The application was presented on the basis of the provisions for 
'regional  disasters'  laid  down  in  Article  2(3)  of  the  Regulation  which  defines  a 

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'regional 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 GDP. The damage 
caused  by  the  earthquake  in  Kos  represents  1,8 %  of  the  GDP  of  the  relevant 
Southern  Aegean4  NUTS  level  2  region  and  therefore  exceeds  the  1,5 %  threshold 
laid down in the Regulation. The application from Greece is therefore eligible for a 
contribution from the EUSF. 

In their application the Greek authorities requested the payment of an advance. The 
Commission considered that the payment of an advance is not justified as essential 
additional information from Greece was required to make the preliminary assessment 
laid down in Article 4a of the Regulation. 

In  response  to  the  earthquake  rescue  teams  were  brought  in  to  assess  the  situation, 
carry out rescue activities, restore the island’s vital functions (airport, port, hospital) 
and to coordinate the local emergency management authorities. Firefighters and the 
National  Ambulance  Service  were  mobilised  to  search  for  people  trapped  and 
injured.  Special  teams  restored  cut  power  lines.  Greece  reported  10  casualties  and 
more than 100 people injured. Residents and a large number of tourists had to sleep 
in schools, parks and outdoors areas for several nights. The port of Kos was found to 
have  suffered  significant damage  and could not  be used  for  some days.  150 homes 
need to be repaired and 10 homes need rebuilding. 33 businesses require repairs and 
5  need  rebuilding.  3  public  buildings  were  also  affected.  Many  cultural  heritage 
assets were damaged, primarily on the eastern side of the island, which was closer to 
the epicentre of the earthquake, in particular, monuments and archaeological sites in 
the town of Kos. 

Greece  estimated  the  cost  of  emergency  and  recovery  operations  eligible  under 
Article 3(2) of the Regulation at EUR 93,9 million and presented it broken down by 
type  of  operation.  The  largest  share  (over  EUR 47,8 million)  of  eligible  costs 
concerns  measures  to  protect  the  cultural  heritage.  The  second  largest  share  (some 
EUR 41,1 million) concerns costs to restore the transport infrastructure. 

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

The affected region is a 'more developed region' under the European Structural and 
Investment  (ESI)  Funds  (2014-2020).  The  Greek  authorities  signalled  to  the 
Commission  their  intention  to  reallocate  funding  from  the  ESI  Funds  programmes 
towards recovery measures. 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

Greece did not activate the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.  

(10) 

As a secondary effect of the earthquake a local tsunami was generated that affected 
the coast of the Bodrum peninsula and parts of the coastline of the island of Kos. A 
post  event  survey  was  conducted  by  an  international  team  composed  of  scientists 
from Turkey, Greece and the Commission's Joint Research Centre. 

(11) 

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

4 

EL42 = Regional GDP for  Notio Aigaio/Southern Aegean is EUR 6 045 million based on 2014 data. 

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(12) 

The  Greek  application  provides  a  description  of  the  implementation  of  Union 
legislation  on  disaster  risk  prevention  and  management  related  to  the  nature  of  the 
disaster.  Based  on  the  strong  earthquakes  that  hit  Greece  between  1978-1981,  the 
Greek  government set up a natural disaster risk prevention and management policy 
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. 

2.3 

Lithuania – flooding 

During summer and autumn, Lithuania was affected by continuous rainfall resulting in fully 
saturated soils unable to absorb the excess water. This situation resulted in flooding causing 
mainly damage to the network infrastructure and in the agricultural sector. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

Lithuania applied for a contribution from the Solidarity Fund on 22 December 2017, 
within  the  deadline  of  12  weeks  after  the  first  damage  was  recorded  on 
4 October 2017.  The  application  was  submitted  as  a  ‘major  disaster'  under  Article 
2(2)  of  the  Regulation.  On  6 February 2018  Lithuania  submitted  additional 
information. 

The disaster is of natural origin and therefore falls within the field of application of 
the EUSF. 

the 

total  direct  damage  caused  by 

Lithuania  estimated 
the  flooding  at 
EUR 407,4 million. This amount exceeds the 'major disaster threshold' for mobilising 
the EUSF applicable to Lithuania in 2017 of EUR 214,9 million (i.e. 0,6 % of Gross 
National Income based on 2015 data). As the estimated total direct damage exceeds 
that  threshold,  the  disaster  qualifies  as  a  ‘major  natural  disaster’  and  is  therefore 
eligible for a contribution from the EUSF. 

Lithuania did not request the payment of an advance. 

The  Lithuanian  application  gives  a  detailed  description  of  the  meteorological 
situation and effects of the long-lasting rainfalls. A period of excessive rainfall over 
several  months  with  precipitation  rates  reaching  up  280 %  of  the  normal  led  to 
waterlogged  soil,  excessive  inland  waters  and  critical  overloading  of  drainage 
systems. On 4 October 2017 Lithuania declared a nation-wide emergency. The long-
term flow of excess water with sudden changes in water levels, soil and litter silt, and 
high  water  pressure  damaged  drainage  systems  and  led  to  their  critical  condition. 
Land  reclamation  and  drainage  systems  nationwide  failed  to  absorb  water. 
Overflowing rivers led to flooding of crop fields, farms and homes, electrical stations 
and  affected  cemetery  areas.  The  heavy  rainfalls  also  damaged  over  100  km  of 
district  roads.  Some  50  electricity  black-outs  were  recorded,  heating  pipelines  and 
thermal insulation were damaged. 

Lithuania  estimated  the  cost  of  emergency  and  recovery  operations  eligible  under 
Article 3(2) of the Regulation at EUR 240,2 million and presented it broken down by 
type of operation. Almost the entire eligible costs concern the restoration to working 
order of infrastructure in the field of water/waste water management including dams 
and drainage systems. The contribution from the EUSF may however not be used for 
repairs going beyond the state of these assets before the disaster. 

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(7) 

(8) 

The Lithuanian authorities confirmed that there is no insurance coverage of eligible 
cost. 

The  affected  region  is  a  'less  developed  region'  under  the  European  Structural  and 
Investment (ESI) Funds (2014-2020). The Lithuanian authorities did not signal to the 
Commission  their  intention  to  reallocate  funding  from  the  ESI  Funds  programmes 
towards recovery measures. However, following a request from Lithuania for support 
to farmers presented to the Commission in November 2017, the Commission adopted 
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/108 on "an emergency measure in the form 
of aid to farmers due to the floods and heavy rainfalls in certain areas of Lithuania, 
Latvia,  Estonia  and  Finland".  The  maximum  amount  provided  to  Lithuania  is 
EUR 9,1 million. 

(9) 

Lithuania did not activate the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.  

(10) 

(11) 

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

The  Lithuanian  application  provides  a  description  of  the  national  emergency 
prevention  procedures  in  place  without  however  referring  specifically  to  the 
implementation  of  Union  legislation  on  disaster  risk  prevention  and  management 
related to the nature of the disaster. The Law on Civil Protection of the Republic of 
Lithuania regulates procedures to be applied by state and municipal institutions and 
establishments, farms and other bodies to prepare for emergencies and prevent them. 
Under  the  legal  acts,  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture,  Ministry  of  Environment  and 
municipal  administrations  have  approved  3-year  plans  of  emergency  prevention 
measures.  The  State  Emergency  Management  Plan  approved  in  2010  sets  out  the 
mobilisation and management of material and human resources in the wake of a state 
emergency. Under Order No 1V-114 of 2007, the responsibility for informing about 
the  events  and  emergencies  caused  by  hydro-meteorological  and  geological  events 
lies with the Ministry of Environment and subordinate bodies. 

2.4 

Poland – storm 

Between 9 and 12 August 2017 parts of Poland were affected by exceptionally violent storms 
and  heavy  rainfall  causing  widespread  damage  to  private  and  public  forests,  public 
infrastructure and other assets. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Poland  applied  for  a  contribution  from  the  Solidarity  Fund  on  25 October 2017, 
within  the  deadline  of  12  weeks  after  the  first  damage  was  recorded  on 
9 August 2017.  The  application  was  submitted  as  a  'regional  disaster'  under  Article 
2(3)  of  the  Regulation.  On  23 March 2018,  following  a  request  from  the 
Commission, Poland provided essential additional information necessary to complete 
the assessment of this case. 

The disaster is of natural origin and therefore falls within the field of application of 
the EUSF. 

The  Polish  authorities  estimate  the  total  direct  damage  caused  by  the  disaster  at 
EUR 491,2 million. The application was presented on the basis of the provisions for 
'regional  disasters'  laid  down  in  Article  2(3)  of  the  Regulation  which  defines  a 
'regional disaster' as any natural disaster resulting in a region at NUTS level 2 of an 

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eligible State in direct damage in excess of 1,5 % of that region's GDP. The damage 
caused by the storm represents 2,0 % of weighted average regional GDP5 of the three 
regions  concerned,  namely  Kuyavian-Pomeranian  voivodeship,  Pomeranian 
voivodeship  and  Greater  Poland  voivodeship  and  therefore  exceeds  the  1,5 % 
threshold  laid  down  in  the  Regulation.  The  application  from  Poland  is  therefore 
eligible for a contribution from the EUSF. 

Poland did not request the payment of an advance. 

The Polish application gives a detailed description of the meteorological situation at 
the  beginning  of  August  2017.  The  storm  came  with  intense  rain  and  local  hail 
causing  6  fatalities  and  39  people  injured.  The districts  of  Toruń  and  Gdańsk  were 
hardest  hit.  Poland  immediately  took  action  to  rescue  human  life,  and  to  secure 
damaged  buildings, to  remove  fallen  trees  which  blocked many  roads  and  railways 
and cut power lines. Most damage occurred in the forest sector. Poland estimates that 
in the three affected regions a total of 9,8 million m3 of timber was destroyed. The 
disaster  caused  significant  losses  in  natural  resources  and  affected  for  instance  22 
forest reserves, 15 bird species and 134 habitats (Natura 2000), including the oldest 
forest  reserve  "Czeszewski  Forest"  in  Jarocin  Forest  District.  Forest  infrastructure 
like  roads,  bridges,  forest  lodges  and  buildings  of  forest  education  centres,  tourist 
sites and other facilities were seriously damaged. In addition, over 13 600 farms and 
about 99 000 ha of crops were affected. In the energy sector, 5 000 pylons need to be 
repaired, as well as 758 transformer stations and over 451 km of power lines. 

Forests in Poland are of particular importance to the environment and are protected 
by  a  variety  of  regulations.  They  cover  about  30 %  of  Poland’s  territory,  81 %  of 
them are public. 77 % of the Polish forests are under the administration of the State 
Forests National Forest Holding. They include national parks, nature reserves, areas 
of protected landscape, Natura 2000 sites, areas of ecological importance, nature and 
landscape  complexes  and  documentation  sites.  The  areas  of  Natura  2000  network 
cover about 20% of Poland.  

Poland  estimated  the  cost  of  emergency  and  recovery  operations  eligible  under 
Article 3(2) of the Regulation at EUR 324,5 million and presented it broken down by 
type  of  operation.  The  largest  share  (over  EUR 259,1 million)  of  eligible  costs 
concerns measures in relation to the immediate restoration of affected zones to avoid 
immediate  effects  from  soil  erosion.  The  second  largest  share  (EUR 42,4 million) 
concerns costs to restore the transport infrastructure. 

The Commission noted that problems occurred in the past regarding the compliance 
of  forest  management  activities  with  the  EU  environmental  legislation.  In  order  to 
prevent  non-compliance of envisaged operations related to  forest management with 
the  EU  environmental  legislation,  the  Commission  may  include  appropriate 
provisions into the subsequent implementing act.  

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

The Polish authorities confirmed that there is no insurance coverage of eligible cost. 

(10) 

The affected regions are 'less developed regions' under the European Structural and 
Investment  (ESI)  Funds  (2014-2020).  The  Polish  authorities  did  not  signal  to  the 

5 

Weighted average regional GDP amounts to EUR 24,1 million based on 2014 data. 

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Commission  their  intention  to  reallocate  funding  from  the  ESI  Funds  programmes 
towards recovery measures. 

(11) 

Poland did not activate the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.  

(12) 

(13) 

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

The  Polish  application  provides  a  description  of  the  implementation  of  Union 
legislation on disaster risk prevention and management, such as the ‘Flood Directive’ 
Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks, as well as 
Directive  2008/114/EC  on  the  identification  and  designation  of  European  critical 
infrastructures  and  the  assessment  of  the  need  to  improve  their  protection  and 
Directive 2012/18/EU on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous 
substances. There is currently no Union legislation specifically relating to storms.  

2.5 

Conclusion 

For  the  reasons  set  out  above,  the  disasters  referred  to  in  the  applications  submitted  by 
Bulgaria,  Greece,  Lithuania  and  Poland  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 2014-20206 (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 
management7 (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 Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland, the calculation 
of  the  financial  contribution  from  the  EUSF,  based  on  the  estimate  of  total  direct  damages 
caused is as follows: 

6 
7 

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

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Member 
States 

BULGARIA 

GREECE 

LITHUANIA 

POLAND 

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) 

Total amount 
of aid proposed 

Advances 
paid 

(EUR) 

(EUR) 

Regional  
(Art. 2(3)) 

Regional  
(Art. 2(3)) 

Major 
(Art. 2(2)) 

Regional 
(Art. 2(4)) 

TOTAL 

90,329 

288,020 

2 258 225 

101,432 

1 057,800 

2 535 796 

- 

- 

2 258 225 

2 535 796 

407,366 

214,944 

5 373 600 

11 545 341 

16 918 941 

491,170 

2 501,280 

12 279 244 

- 

12 279 244 

33 992 206 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

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  20178),  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 173 389 397. 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 and minus EUR 104 166 951 mobilised for 
Greece, Spain, France and Portugal earlier this year9. 

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 for Greece, Spain, France and Portugal 

Minus 25% of the 2018 allocation retained 

Maximum amount currently available (2017+2018 allocations) 

Amount 

EUR 

140 770 303 

574 342 834 

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

421 142 057 

-104 166 951 

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

173 389 397 

Total amount of aid proposed to be mobilised for Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland 

- 33 992 206 

Remaining availabilities until 1 October 2018 

139 397 191 

8 

9 

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 (OJ L 245, 23.9.2017) 
and the accompanying Amending Budget N°4/2017 (OJ L 330, 13.12.2017). 
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 
(COM(2018) 150,  22.2.2018)  and  the  accompanying  Draft  Amending Budget N°1/2018  (COM(2018) 
150, 22.2.2018). 

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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 
Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland 

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 Fund10, 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 management11, and in particular point 11 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

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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 
1311/201312. 

On 11 January 2018, Bulgaria submitted  an application  to  mobilise the Fund, further 
to a flooding caused by intense rainfall and violent storms of 25 and 26 October 2017. 

On 11 October 2017, Greece submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following 
an  earthquake  that  affected  the  South  Aegean  region  and  the  island  of  Kos  on 
20 July 2017. 

On  22 December 2017,  Lithuania  submitted  an  application  to  mobilise  the  Fund, 
following a flooding caused by continuous rainfall during summer and autumn 2017. 

On  25 October 2017,  Poland  submitted  their  application  for  a  contribution  from  the 
Fund, following exceptionally violent storms and heavy rainfall that occurred between 
9 and 12 August 2017. 

The  applications  by  Bulgaria,  Greece,  Lithuania  and  Poland  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 
Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland. 

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). 

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(9) 

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

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 2 258 225  to  Bulgaria, 
EUR 2 535 796  to  Greece,  EUR 16 918 941  to  Lithuania  and  EUR 12 279 244  to  Poland,  in 
commitment and payment appropriations. 

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union. 

Article 2 

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. 

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