European Union Solidarity Fund

  • Member States ( eligible to apply )
  • Candidate countries ( eligible to apply )
  • Potential candidate countries
  • Membership is not currently possible / wanted

The European Union Solidarity Fund ( EUSF), also Solidarity Fund of the European Union called, was created in 2002 by the European Commission launched to Member States of the European Union ( EU), as well as their candidate after major natural disasters (possibly even nuclear disasters, etc. ) to swiftly to make financial assistance it. The occasion was at that time the so-called " flood of the century " in Central Europe.

Since the fund invests in 52 disaster cases by 23 states was taken in a total volume of about 3.2 billion euros to complete. Germany received according to EU figures of which a total of approximately 611 million euros, 444 million alone in the wake of the floods of 2002 ( year flood ).

Purpose

The EUSF was not set up with the aim to cover all the damage caused by natural disasters. It is designed in principle to restrict non-insurable damage public and therefore covers, for example, not from private losses. Medium-to long -term measures, such as reconstruction, economic support and preventions settings but may under other instruments to be eligible. Questioning come here especially the EU Structural Funds and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Annual budget

For EUSF not exist " fixed pot ". The funds, which are funded in addition to the regular EU budget, based on the respective requirements. The annual ceiling currently stands at one billion euros. For 2013, there is conflicting evidence as to whether this limit has already been reached, however, because the victims of the flood in 2013 countries will submit such requests, the budget for 2013 will be exhausted with certainty. However, countries such as Germany can in timely request, hope for mobilization of funds in subsequent years.

Application Procedure

Application Requirements

Only EU Member States and countries in the EU accession negotiations can provide an auxiliary request, if the damage from a natural disaster (possibly nuclear disaster, etc.)

  • 0.6 per cent of gross national income or
  • Amount to around 3.7 billion euros ( three billion euros at 2002 prices ).

Application position / key

The governments of the affected EU Member States must apply within ten weeks of the disaster assistance from the EUSF at the European Commission, which decides on the request and, in turn, makes an application for mobilization to the competent budgetary authority of the EU.

Approval

Thus, it may be a disbursement of funds in the end, the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union must approve the mobilization, as they together constitute the budgetary authority. Although approval is not mandatory nature, has in the years since none of the institutions rejected a request to mobilization.

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