Press Release: EU Solidarity Fund: Commission welcomes Parliament’s approval of a faster and simpler response to disasters

On 16 April 2014, Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Regional Policy, welcomed the European Parliament's vote to endorse reform of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), strengthening the EU’s response to natural disasters across European regions. The plans proposed by the Commission in mid-2013, and given the green light by the Parliament voting in Strasbourg made the Fund more responsive and simpler to use with clearer criteria as to who can benefit. The reform also allowed for advance payments of up to 10%, which offer a fast helping hand to disaster-stricken Member States and regions that have applied for EU assistance.

• Primary Source

European Commission: InfoRegio: Regional Policy: The Funds: Solidarity Fund http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/funding/solidarity-fund/

ESO: Background information: Q&A on the reform of the European Union Solidarity Fund http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-qa-on-the-reform-of-the-european-union-solidarity-fund/

European Parliament: Press Release, 16.04.14: EU aid for disaster-stricken countries to arrive faster, with less red tape http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140411IPR43469/

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