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 Romania and Italy in relation to natural disasters in 2022 and to Türkiye in relation to the earthquakes in February 2023
Date: 2023-08-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Budget, European Commission
Subjects: European Union Solidarity Fund, Italy, Romania, Türkiye, aid to disaster victims, commitment of expenditure, emergency aid, general budget (EU), natural disaster, payment appropriation

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 23.8.2023  COM(2023) 381 final 2023/0297 (BUD)  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 Romania and Italy in relation to natural disasters in 2022 and to Türkiye in relation to the earthquakes in February 2023  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

This  decision  covers  the  mobilisation  of  the  European  Union  Solidarity  Fund  (hereinafter 
referred  to  as  ‘the  EUSF’)  in  accordance  with  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2012/20021 
(hereinafter  referred  to  as  ‘the  Regulation’)  for  an  amount  of  EUR 454 835 030  to  provide 
assistance  to  Romania  and  Italy  in  relation  to  the  natural  disasters  that  took  place  in  these 
countries in 2022 and to Türkiye in relation to the earthquakes in February 2023. 

This mobilisation is accompanied by DEC No 10/2023 that proposes to transfer the amount of 
EUR  446  836  375  from  the  Solidarity  and  Emergency  Aid  Reserve  (hereinafter  referred  as 
‘the  SEAR’)  reserve  line  to  the  EUSF  operational  budget  line,  both  in  commitments  and 
payments.  In  addition  to  the  transferred  appropriations  from  the  SEAR  reserve  line,  this 
mobilisation will be financed trough the use of the amount of EUR 7 998 655 in commitments 
and payment appropriations already inscribed in the General Budget 2023 in accordance with 
Article 4a(4) of the EUSF Regulation. 

2. 

2.1 

INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS 

Romania –major disaster: drought 

Between March and August 2022, Romania was affected by a severe and broad drought with 
three main peaks, respectively, at the end of March, in mid-April and in July-August.  

Subsequently, Romania applied for financial assistance from the EUSF. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

1 

On 6 September 2022, Romania submitted an application for a financial contribution 
from the EUSF to finance emergency and recovery operations following the drought 
in the summer of 2022. 

Romania applied for a contribution from the EUSF within the deadline of 12 weeks 
from  the  date  on  which  the  public  authorities  took  first  official  action  against  the 
effects of the disaster, which was on 16 June 2022. The application contains all the 
information required under Article 4 of the Regulation. 

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

The Romanian authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at 
EUR 1,31 billion.  This  amount  exceeds  the  ‘major  natural  disaster’  threshold  for 
(GNI),  which  was 
Romania  of  0,6%  of 
EUR 1 290,495 million in 2022. Therefore, the disaster qualifies as a ‘major natural 
disaster’ according to Article 2(2) of the Regulation. 

the  Gross  National 

Income 

The total direct damage is the basis for the calculation of the amount of the financial 
contribution  from  the  EUSF.  The  financial  contribution  may  only  be  used  for 
essential  emergency  and  recovery  operations  as  defined  in  Article  3  of  the 
Regulation. 

Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2012/2002  of  11 November  2002  establishing  the  European  Union 
Solidarity  Fund  (OJ  L  311,  14.11.2002,  p.  3)  as  amended  by  Regulation  (EU)  No  661/2014  of  the 
European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation 
(EU) No 461/2020 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, 
p. 9). 

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(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(10) 

Romania  did  not  request  the  payment  of  an  advance  pursuant  to  Article  4a  of  the 
Regulation. 

From March 2022, severe drought hit the south-eastern part of Romania particularly 
hard.  Crops  have  been  negatively  impacted  by  the  drought  and  two  consecutive 
heatwaves at the end of June – beginning of July 2022. Precipitation arrived too late 
to  compensate  and  alleviate  vegetation  and  crop  stress.  As  a  result  of  wetter  and 
cooler conditions at the end of August and the beginning of September, the hot and 
dry  period  receded  in  autumn.  Romania  was  also  one  of  the  most  heavily  affected 
countries  by  wildfires  in  2022.  Data  estimated  by  the  European  Forest  Fire 
Information System (EFFIS) show that about 163 536 hectares were burnt. In 2022, 
the wildfires in Romania were mainly concentrated in two regions, the western areas 
of  the  country  in  which  the  most  affected  vegetation  types  were  forests  and 
transitional shrub lands and the Danube delta on the East of the country, in which a 
great number of large fires occurred. 

The  Romanian  authorities  did  not  request  assistance  through  the  European  Union 
Civil Protection Mechanism. 

Romania  estimated  the  cost  of  operations  eligible  under  Article  3(2)  of  the 
Regulation at EUR 34,69 million and presented it broken down by type of operation. 
The  largest  share  of  the  cost  of  emergency  operations  (over  EUR 22,35 million) 
concerns  rescue  services,  including  firefighting  actions,  supply  of  water  to  the 
population  and  to  the  affected  agricultural  fields.  The  second  largest  share  of  cost 
concerns the cleaning up of the disaster-stricken areas and natural zones amounting 
to  EUR 9,73 million.  The  third  largest  share  of  cost  concerns  the  restoration  of 
working order of infrastructure in the fields of water and waste water,  and transport 
amounting to EUR 2,6 million. 

As  regards  the  legislative  measures  to  mitigate  the  negative  effects  of  the  drought 
and  heat  waves  of  2022,  at  local  level,  action  plans  have  been  put  into  place  after 
June  2022.  Due  to  the  drought  of  2007  in  2008,  the  National  Committee  for 
Combating Drought, Land Degradation and Desertification was established. In 2010, 
the  Committee  developed  the  National  Strategy on  reducing  the  effects  of  drought, 
preventing and combating land degradation and desertification, in the short, medium 
and  long  term.  In  2020  Romania  approved  a  National  Disaster  Risk  Management 
Plan. Among the 10 risks evaluated, in the period 2020-2028 the priority emphasis is 
placed on 5 natural risks: earthquake, floods, forest fires, epidemics / pandemics and 
drought. 

(11) 

At the date of submitting the application, Romania was not subject to infringement 
proceedings concerning Union legislation relating to the nature of the disaster. 

(12) 

The Romanian authorities did not indicate any insurance coverage of eligible cost. 

2.2 

Italy- regional disaster: flood in the Marche Region 

Since  the  early  afternoon  of  15  September  2022,  the  central  Italian  regions,  including  the 
Marche region were affected by intense rainfall resulting in fluvial and flash flood events. 

Subsequently, Italy applied for financial assistance from the EUSF. 

(1) 

On 8 December 2022, Italy submitted an application for a financial contribution from 
the  EUSF  to  finance  emergency  and  recovery  operations  following  the  flood  in 
September 2022. 

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(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

Italy applied for a contribution from the EUSF within the deadline of 12 weeks after 
the  first  damage  caused  by  the  disaster  on  15  September  2022.  The  application 
contains all the information required under Article 4 of the Regulation. 

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

The  application  presented  the  event  as  a  ‘regional  natural  disaster’  as  laid  down  in 
Article  2(3)  of  the  Regulation,  which  is  any  natural  disaster  in  a  region  at  NUTS 
level 2 of an eligible State resulting in direct damage exceeding 1,5% of that region's 
gross  domestic  product  (GDP).  The  Italian  authorities  estimate  the  total  direct 
damage caused by the disaster at EUR 837,56 million. This amount represents 1,98% 
of  GDP  of  the  Marche  region,  and  it  exceeds  the  applicable  ‘regional  disaster’ 
threshold of 1,5% of the Region’s GDP, which was EUR 635,88 million in 2022. In 
the light of the above, the disaster qualifies as a ‘regional natural disaster’. 

The total direct damage is the basis for the calculation of the amount of the financial 
contribution  from  the  EUSF.  The  financial  contribution  may  only  be  used  for 
essential  emergency  and  recovery  operations  as  defined  in  Article  3  of  the 
Regulation. 

Italy  did  not  request  the  payment  of  an  advance  pursuant  to  Article  4a  of  the 
Regulation. 

Between  15  and  17  September  2022,  the  central  Italian  regions  were  affected  by 
intense  rainfall  resulting  in  fluvial  and  flash  flood  events.  In  particular,  the  storm 
cells  that  developed  on  the  Umbrian  side  of  the  Apennines  affected  the  mountain 
area  of  the  Marche,  ultimately  producing  intense  and  localized  thunderstorms  with 
remarkable  precipitation  depths  on  the  15  September.  Due  to  the  extreme 
meteorological  event,  the provinces of Pesaro-Urbino, Ancona,  and Macerata, have 
experienced floodings and erosion along the main and secondary rivers, resulting in 
the  destruction  or  damage  of  infrastructure,  extensive  flooding  in  the  floodplain  as 
well  as  damage  to  both  public  and  private  buildings  and  goods.  Three  rivers  have 
also  overtopped  their  banks  and  flooded  the  surrounding  areas.  The  overall  area 
affected by the extreme meteorological event represents 43% of the total land area of 
the Marche region. The consequences of the event were dramatic. In addition to the 
extensive economic losses, 12 people lost their lives.  

The  Italian  authorities  did  not  request  assistance  through  the  European  Emergency 
Response  Coordination  centre  (ERCC)  but  the  Italian  Civil  Protection  Department 
has kept the ERCC updated on the progress of disaster management activities. 

Italy estimated the cost of operations eligible under Article 3(2) of the Regulation at 
EUR 169,07 million and presented it broken down by type of operation. The largest 
share  of  the  cost  of  emergency  operations  (over  EUR 67,57 million)  concerns 
temporary  accommodation  and  rescue  services.  The  second  largest  share  of  cost 
concerns the restoration of the working order of infrastructure and plant in the fields 
of energy, water, waste water, telecoms, transport, health, and education amounting 
to EUR 59,85 million. The third largest share of costs concerns the cleaning up of the 
disaster-stricken  area  amounting  to  EUR  23,66  million.  The  fourth  largest  share  of 
cost concerns the securing of preventive infrastructure and measures of protection of 
cultural heritage amounting to EUR 17,99 million. 

(10) 

Italy  has  transposed  the  Directive  2007/60/EC  of  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council of 23 October 2007 through the legislative Decree of 23 February 2010, n. 

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49  regarding  the  implementation  of  Directive  2007/60/EC  on  the  assessment  and 
management  of  flood  risk”.  The  Legislative  Decree  n.  49/2010  states  that  flood 
hazard maps and flood risks maps need to be adopted for areas identified according 
to the same piece of legislation. In addition, before 22 December 2015 a flood risk 
management plan divided into river basin districts had to be approved.  

(11) 

At  the  date  of  submitting  the  application  Italy  was  not  subject  to  infringement 
proceedings concerning Union legislation relating to the nature of the disaster. 

(12) 

The Italian authorities did not indicate any insurance coverage of eligible cost. 

Türkiye- major disaster: earthquakes 

2.3 
On  6  February  2023,  two  major  earthquakes  of  7,8Mw  and  7,5Mw  magnitude2  hit  southern 
Türkiye  in  the  region  of  Kahramanmaraş  (close  to  the  border  with  northern  Syria).  On  20 
February 2023, another powerful earthquake of 6,3 Mw hit the region of Hatay.  

Subsequently, Türkiye applied for financial assistance from the EUSF. 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

On 20 April 2023, Türkiye submitted an application for a financial contribution from 
the EUSF to  finance emergency  and recovery operations following the earthquakes 
in  February  2023.  Türkiye  is  a  country  involved  in  accession  negotiations  with  the 
Union and, therefore, according to  Article 2(1) of the EUSF Regulation is eligible to 
apply for assistance from the EUSF. 

Türkiye applied for a contribution  from  the EUSF within the deadline of 12 weeks 
after  the  first  damage  caused  by  the  disaster  on  6  February  2023.  The  application 
contains all the information required under Article 4 of the Regulation. 

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

The  Turkish  authorities  estimate  the  total  direct  damage  caused  by  the  disaster  at 
EUR 81,7 billion. The Commission has accepted EUR 78,8 billion as plausible total 
direct damage. This amount exceeds the applicable ‘major natural disaster’ threshold 
for  Türkiye  of  EUR  3  000  million  in  2011  prices  which  corresponds  to 
EUR 3 804,725 million in current prices in 2023. Therefore, the disaster qualifies as 
a ‘major natural disaster’ according to Article 2(2) of the Regulation. 

The total direct damage is the basis for the calculation of the amount of the financial 
contribution  from  the  EUSF.  The  financial  contribution  may  only  be  used  for 
essential  emergency  and  recovery  operations  as  defined  in  Article  3  of  the 
Regulation. 

Türkiye is a country involved in accession negotiations with the Union and thus not 
an EU member state and, therefore, it does not qualify for the payment of an advance 
pursuant to Article 4a of the Regulation. 

The two major earthquakes of 6 February 2023 created widespread damage and tens 
of  thousands  of  fatalities.  There  were  more  than  10  000  aftershocks  in  the  three 
weeks  that  followed.  On  20  February  2023,  another  earthquake  of  6,3Mw  hit  the 
region of Hatay. The seismic sequence was the result of shallow strike-slip faulting. 
The 7,8Mw earthquake of 6 February is the largest in Türkiye since the 1939 Erzincan 

2  Mw - "Richter" seismic magnitude scale or moment magnitude scale. 

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(8) 

(9) 

(10) 

(11) 

earthquake of the same magnitude, and jointly the second strongest recorded in the 
history of the country, after the North Anatolia earthquake of 1668. 

As  a  result  of  the  earthquakes,  more  than  50  thousand  people  lost  their  lives  and 
significant  material  losses  were  suffered  in  11  provinces.  According  to  damage 
assessment,  close  to  1  million  buildings  suffered  damage,  of  which  approximately 
280  000  collapsed  or  sustained  severe  damage.  The  earthquakes  severely  damaged 
road,  railway,  communication,  energy,  natural  gas  supply  networks  and  water 
infrastructure.  An  estimated  14  million  people,  or  16 %  percent  of  Türkiye 
population,  were  affected.  Due  to  the  earthquakes,  271  060  personnel  have  been 
deployed to the region including 35 250 search and rescue personnel. Thousands of 
heavy work machines, 75 aircraft and 108 helicopters have worked in the region. In 
the  first  moths  332  tent-cities  and  189  container  cities  were  installed  in  the  in  the 
affected region. Nearly 1,6 million people have been given shelter in the earthquake-
affected  region.  In  other  provinces,  329  960  citizens  affected  by  the  disaster  are 
provided  with  accommodation  services.  In  addition,  there  are  approximately  3,5 
million  registered  Syrians  under  temporary  protection  (SuTPs)  in  Türkiye.  The 
affected region hosts more than 1.7 million Syrians UTP.  

In  addition  to  the  mobilisation  of  all  available  national  forces,  international 
humanitarian and civil protection assistance was requested. Türkiye is a participating 
state  in  the  European  Union  Civil  Protection  Mechanism  (UCPM).  After  the 
activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) by Türkiye, 
20 EU Member States together with Albania, Montenegro, Norway, and Serbia have 
offered  teams  or  assistance  in  coordination  with  the  EU's  Emergency  Response 
Coordination Centre (ERCC) and the Turkish authorities.  

On 20 March 2023, the Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the Council, in 
coordination  with  the  Turkish  authorities,  organised  an  International  Donors’ 
Conference.  In  this  Conference,  the  Commission  pledged  to  support  Türkiye  with 
EUR 1 billion. 

Türkiye estimated the cost of operations eligible under Article 3(2) of the Regulation 
at EUR 15,109 billion and presented it broken down by type of operation. The largest 
share of the cost  of emergency operations (EUR 9,1 billion) concerns restoration to 
working order of infrastructure in the fields of health, education, transportation, and 
others.  The  second  largest  share  of  cost  concerns  temporary  accommodation  and 
rescue  services  amounting  to  EUR 3,3 billion.  The  third  largest  share  of  cost 
concerns the cleaning up of disaster-stricken areas/natural zones amounting to EUR 2 
billion.  The  fourth  largest  share  of  cost  concerns  the  securing  of  preventive 
infrastructure and protection of cultural heritage amounting to EUR 0,6 billion. 

(12) 

The Turkish authorities did not include costs covered by insurance in the eligible cost 
calculations. 

2.4 

Conclusion 

In  light  of  the  considerations    set  out  above  and  following  the  assessment  of  the  submitted 
information,  the  Commission  concludes  that  the  disasters  referred  to  in  the  applications 
submitted  by  Romania,  Italy  and  Türkiye  meet  the  conditions  set  out  in  the  Regulation  for 
mobilising the EUSF. 

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3. 

FINANCING FROM THE EUSF ALLOCATION 2023 

Council Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the 
multiannual financial framework for the years 2021-20273 (hereafter "the MFF regulation"), 
and in particular Article 9 thereof allows for the mobilisation of the EUSF in the context of 
the  SEAR.  Point  10  of  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  16 December 2020  between  the 
European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  on  budgetary  discipline,  on 
cooperation  on  budgetary  matters  and  on  sound  financial  management4  (IIA)  as  well  as  on 
new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources, lays 
down the modalities for the mobilisation of the EUSF in the context of the SEAR. 

As solidarity was the main justification for the creation of the EUSF, the Commission takes 
the view that aid should be progressive. Consequently, 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 the portion of the damage below the threshold. That means that the aid amount 
for a country affected by disaster complying with the conditions for a ‘major natural disaster’ 
is calculated by adding up two amounts: 2,5% of the total direct damage under the threshold 
and 6% for the part of the total direct damage above the threshold. 

The rate applied for defining the aid amounts for ‘regional natural disasters’, which remains 
below the national threshold, is 2,5% of total direct damage. 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.  The Commision therefore 
proposes to the budget authority to mobilise the following amounts for the applications from 
Romania and Italy: 

Member States 

Qualification 
of disaster 

Total direct 
damage 
(EUR) 

Regional 
disaster 
threshold 
( EUR) 

Major 
disaster 
threshold(EU
R) 

2,5% of 
total 
direct 
damage 
(up to the 
threshold 
for major 
diasters) 
(EUR) 

6% of 
direct 
damage 
above 
threshold 
(EUR) 

Total 
amount of 
aid 
proposed(
EUR) 

Romania-drought 

Italy-flood 

Major 
(Art. 2(2)) 

Regional 
(Art. 2(3)) 

1 317 721 000 

N/A 

1 290 495 000 

32 262 375 

1 633 560 

33 895 935 

837 563 818 

635 880 000 

N/A 

20 939 095 

N/A 

20 939 095 

TOTAL 

54 835 030 

In  accordance  with  Article  9(2)  of  the  MFF  Regulation,  the  overall  annual  ceiling  of  the 
SEAR is EUR 1 200 000 000 in 2018 prices or EUR 1 324 897 000 in current prices. Article 
9(4) of the MFF Regulation stipulates that 25% of the overall annual SEAR allocation (EUR 
331 224 250 in current prices for 2023) becomes available for all the components of SEAR as 
of  1  October.  Also,  in  accordance  with  Article  9  (4)  of  the  MFF  Regulation,  the  maximum 

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4 

OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 11. 
OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 28. 

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amount that can be mobilised by the EUSF is the 50% of the overall SEAR allocation after the 
decuction of the above mentioned 25%.  

Therefore,  the  maximum  amount  that  can  be  mobilised  by  the  EUSF  from  the  2023  SEAR 
allocation at this stage is EUR 496 836 375. In accordance with Article 4a (4) of the EUSF 
Regulation, the amount of EUR 50 000 000 has been already inscribed in the General Budget 
2023 for the payment of possible future advances. 

Amount available under the EUSF in 2023: 

Total annual 2023 SEAR allocation 

Annual 2023 SEAR allocation earmarked for the EUSF  

- 

Amount to be mobilised for Romania and Italy 

Remaining amount to be mobilised (including EUR 50 million inscribed 
in the Budget in accordance with Article 4a(4) of the EUSF Regulation) 

1 324 897 000 

496 836 375 

- 54 835 030 

442 001 345 

As regards the application from Türkiye, the same methodology for calculating the EUSF aid 
as  set  out  in  the  2002-2003  Annual  Report  on  the  EUSF  and  accepted  by  the  European 
Parliament and the Council is applied. 

Qualification 
of disaster 

Total direct 
damage 
(EUR) 

Major 
disaster 
threshold 
(EUR) 

2,5% of 
total 
direct 
damage 
up to the 
threshold 
(EUR) 

6% of direct 
damage above 
threshold 
(EUR) 

Potential aid 
amount 
(EUR) 

Total amount 
of aid proposed 
(EUR) 

Türkiye -
earthquake 

Major 
(Art. 2(2)) 

78 799 164 182 

3 804 725 000 

95 118 125 

4 499 666 351 

4 594 784 476 

400 000 000 

The calculation of the potential EUSF aid for Türkiye leads to an amount which exceeds the 
budgetary  availabilities  at  this  stage.  The  Commission    proposes  to  mobilise  the  EUSF  for 
Türkiye  in  line  with  the  anticipated  amount  of  the  EUSF  support  within  the  Commission’s 
pledge at the International Donors’ conference on 20 March 2023, which is EUR 400 million. 
After this mobilisation, the remaining amount will be EUR 42 001 345. 

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2023/0297 (BUD) 

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 
Romania and Italy in relation to natural disasters in 2022 and to Türkiye in relation to 
the earthquakes in February 2023 

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 Fund5 and in particular Article 4(3) thereof, 

Having  regard  to  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  16  December  2020  between  the 
European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  on  budgetary  discipline,  on 
cooperation on budgetary matters and on sound financial management6 (IIA)as well as on new 
own resources,  including a roadmap towards the  introduction of new own resources,  and in 
particular point 10 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

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7 

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  major  or  regional  natural 
disasters or major public health emergency. 

The  Fund  is  not  to  exceed  the  ceilings  as  laid  down  in  Article  9  of  Council 
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2020/20937 

On  6  September  2022,  Romania  submitted  an  application  to  mobilise  the  Fund, 
following the drought in the summer of 2022. 

On 8 December 2022, Italy submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following 
the flood in the Marche Region in September 2022. 

On 20 April 2023, Türkiye submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following 
the earthquakes in February 2023. 

The  above  mentioned  applications  meet  the  conditions  for  providing  a  financial 
contribution  from  the  Fund,  as  laid  down  in  Article  4  of  Regulation  (EC)  No 
2012/2002. 

OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3. 
OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 28. 
Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No  2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual 
financial framework for the years 2021-2027 (OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 11). 

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(7) 

(8) 

The Fund should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution 
to Romania, Italy and Türkiye. 

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  2023,  the  European  Union 
Solidarity Fund shall be mobilised as follows in commitment and payment  appropriations in 
relation to natural disasters: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

the  amount  of  EUR 33 895 935  shall  be  provided  to  Romania  in  relation  to  the 
drought in summer 2022; 

the amount of EUR 20 939 095 shall be provided to Italy in relation to the flood in 
the Marche Region in September 2022; 

the  amount  of  EUR 400 000 000  shall  be  provided  to  Türkiye  in  relation  to  the 
earthquakes in February 2023. 

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 

9 

  EN