The European Parliament adopted by 660 votes to 11, with 4 abstentions, a resolution 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 Germany and Italy relating to floods occurred in 2024.

Parliament approved the decision annexed to the resolution on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for an amount of EUR 112 071 681 to assist Germany in relation to floods in May and June 2024 and EUR 3 959 872 to Italy in relation to floods of 29 June 2024 in the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta, in the framework of the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2024.

Highlighting the increasing number of severe, destructive and deadly natural disasters in Europe, Parliament called on Member States and Commission to invest in climate mitigation and adaptation measures to avoid human and economic losses. Members considered that the budget of the EUSF or its equivalent should be significantly expanded in view of the upcoming Commission proposal on the new Multiannual Financial Framework and subsequent inter-institutional negotiations.

Members believe that islands and coastal regions should receive adequate funding within the framework of the EUSF to address their specific vulnerabilities. Member States are called on to take into consideration that vulnerable populations are particularly affected by natural disasters.

Given that the EUSF is only a curative instrument, the Union should continue to address climate change adaptation and mitigation by supporting European and national policies to prevent natural disasters. Members stressed the need for action to avoid that the climate risks identified reach critical levels. They called on Member States and the Commission to take the necessary measures to bring the Union to achieve the commitments made in the Paris agreement.

Parliament recalled the need for effective synergies with other Union policies and programmes and underlines that Member States should make best use of funding opportunities, in particular of the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund + and the Rural development programmes.

Members also stressed:

- the need for preventive measures , not only to mitigate future damage but also to prevent the exacerbation of risk conditions following catastrophic events, such as floods, wildfires, landslides or the drying up of lakes and rivers;

- the importance of adequate flexibility between the different programmes;

- that assistance provided under the EUSF should not be to the detriment of Union funding received by Member States under other Union programmes or policies.

Parliament recalled the importance of rapid and solid damage assessment that takes due account of the economic repercussions and called for increased operational efforts to be made in order to reduce the average time for the release of advanced payments, while ensuring the Union budget is protected.

Budgetary text adopted by Parliament

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to assist Germany and Italy relating to floods occurred in 2024.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: the proposed decision covers the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 116 031 553 to provide assistance to Germany and Italy in relation to the natural disaster (floods) that took place in 2024.

The European Union Solidarity Fund, set up by Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, 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.

Major disaster: floods in Southern Germany

On 30 May 2024, Germany was hit by torrential rain causing extreme flooding in Southern Germany at the beginning of June. The flood disaster led to 6 fatalities and the failure of several dams in the region, requiring the evacuation of several municipalities and rescue missions. Floodwaters and debris flow damaged bridges, rail networks and roads, impacting overland travel in the affected areas.

The German authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at EUR 4 139.9 million .

Regional disaster: floods in the Valle d’Aosta region of Italy

On 29 June 2024, Italy suffered violent storms resulting in the overflow of rivers and streams in the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta. The torrential flooding caused extensive damage to the infrastructure, disruption of services and isolation of communities in the autonomous region of Valle d’Aosta. 58% percent of the municipalities in Valle d'Aosta were affected by the flooding. The land area affected is about 66% of the total land area of the region. More than 52 000 inhabitants and 4 800 businesses were directly affected by the disaster.

The Italian authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at EUR 158.39 million .

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 Germany and Italy meet the conditions set out in the EUSF Regulation for mobilising the EUSF.

In the context of the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2024, the Commission proposes to mobilise the following amounts in commitment and payment appropriations under the EUSF:

- EUR 112 071 681 will be provided to Germany in relation to floods in May and June 2024.

- EUR 3 959 872 will be provided to Italy in relation to floods of 29 June 2024 in the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta.

This mobilisation is accompanied by DEC No 14/2024 that proposes to transfer the amount of EUR 116 031 553 from the European Solidarity Reserve (the ESR) reserve line to the EUSF operational budget line, both in commitments and payments appropriations.

Non-legislative basic document

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to assist Germany and Italy relating to floods occurred in 2024.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: the proposed decision covers the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 116 031 553 to provide assistance to Germany and Italy in relation to the natural disaster (floods) that took place in 2024.

The European Union Solidarity Fund, set up by Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, 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.

Major disaster: floods in Southern Germany

On 30 May 2024, Germany was hit by torrential rain causing extreme flooding in Southern Germany at the beginning of June. The flood disaster led to 6 fatalities and the failure of several dams in the region, requiring the evacuation of several municipalities and rescue missions. Floodwaters and debris flow damaged bridges, rail networks and roads, impacting overland travel in the affected areas.

The German authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at EUR 4 139.9 million .

Regional disaster: floods in the Valle d’Aosta region of Italy

On 29 June 2024, Italy suffered violent storms resulting in the overflow of rivers and streams in the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta. The torrential flooding caused extensive damage to the infrastructure, disruption of services and isolation of communities in the autonomous region of Valle d’Aosta. 58% percent of the municipalities in Valle d'Aosta were affected by the flooding. The land area affected is about 66% of the total land area of the region. More than 52 000 inhabitants and 4 800 businesses were directly affected by the disaster.

The Italian authorities estimate the total direct damage caused by the disaster at EUR 158.39 million .

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 Germany and Italy meet the conditions set out in the EUSF Regulation for mobilising the EUSF.

In the context of the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2024, the Commission proposes to mobilise the following amounts in commitment and payment appropriations under the EUSF:

- EUR 112 071 681 will be provided to Germany in relation to floods in May and June 2024.

- EUR 3 959 872 will be provided to Italy in relation to floods of 29 June 2024 in the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta.

This mobilisation is accompanied by DEC No 14/2024 that proposes to transfer the amount of EUR 116 031 553 from the European Solidarity Reserve (the ESR) reserve line to the EUSF operational budget line, both in commitments and payments appropriations.

Non-legislative basic document