European Parliament resolution of 14 December 2021 on the 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 Croatia in relation to the series of earthquakes starting from 28 December 2020 (COM(2021)0963 — C9-0403/2021 — 2021/0359(BUD))
Date: 2021-12-14
Institutions: Committee on Budgets, Committee on Regional Development, European Parliament
Subjects: Croatia, European Union Solidarity Fund, aid to disaster victims, budget appropriation, commitment of expenditure, earthquake, emergency aid, financial aid, general budget (EU), payment appropriation








C_2022251EN.01016001.xml










30.6.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 251/160






P9_TA(2021)0490
Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Croatia
European Parliament resolution of 14 December 2021 on the 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 Croatia in relation to the series of earthquakes starting from 28 December 2020 (COM(2021)0963 — C9-0403/2021 — 2021/0359(BUD))
(2022/C 251/24)

The European Parliament,






—


having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2021)0963 — C9-0403/2021),










—


having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (1),










—


having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 (2), and in particular Article 9 thereof,










—


having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources (3), and in particular point 10 thereof,










—


having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on mitigating the consequences of earthquakes in Croatia (4),










—


having regard to its resolution of 20 October 2021 on the effectiveness of Member States’ use of EU Solidarity Fund money in cases of natural disasters (5),










—


having regard to the letter from the Committee on Regional Development,










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0343/2021),












1.


Expresses its deepest solidarity and sympathy with all the individuals affected by the earthquakes, with their families, and with Croatia’s national, regional and local authorities involved in relief efforts;












2.


Welcomes the decision as a tangible and visible form of the Union’s solidarity with its citizens and the regions in Croatia affected by the earthquakes between 28 December 2020 and 21 February 2021;












3.


Stresses the urgent need to release financial assistance through the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to ensure that support can reach the affected regions in good time;












4.


Regrets the considerable time taken from Croatia’s application for financial assistance, on 18 March 2021 to the Commission proposal for mobilisation at the end of October 2021; underlines, again, the importance of rapid mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund in future to provide relief to people and regions in need;












5.


Highlights that the EUSF has been under considerable strain in the first year of the MFF 2021-2027, that natural disasters are inherently unpredictable and that, due to climate change, their number and severity will likely increase over time and become costlier; underlines, therefore, its growing concern regarding the scarcity of the resources available to the EUSF over the period 2021-2027; considers that the overall funding amount and allocation arrangements for the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) do not ensure optimal effectiveness of the EUSF and calls for a revision of SEAR at the next review of the MFF 2021-2027;












6.


Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;












7.


Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;












8.


Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.






(1)  OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.

(2)  OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 11.

(3)  OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 28.

(4)  Texts adopted, P9_TA(2021)0023.

(5)  Text adopted, P9_TA(2021)0429.





ANNEX


DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL


on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Croatia in relation to the series of earthquakes starting from 28 December 2020


(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision (EU) 2022/49.)