Emergency humanitarian support within the EU

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2016/369 on the provision of emergency support within the EU

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

Regulation (EU) 2016/369:

aims to provide a set of rules for emergency humanitarian support* for EU countries during man-made or natural disasters;
comes into play when other instruments prove insufficient;
supports and complements the actions of the affected EU country or countries.

Following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2020/521 activating emergency support measures under Regulation (EU) 2016/369. The activation period is from 1 February 2020 to 31 January 2022.

KEY POINTS

The Emergency Support Instrument (ESI) created under this regulation is based on needs and is meant to preserve life, prevent human suffering and maintain human dignity.
The Council decides on the activation of emergency support under this regulation based on a proposal by the European Commission.
The Commission must monitor actions that have received funding and present an overall assessment of the support provided during a given activation, or proposals to end support, to the Council at the latest 12 months after the activation of the emergency support.
The Commission must ensure that funds used under this regulation are not affected by fraud, corruption or any other illegal activities that may harm the financial interests of the EU.
This regulation is meant to complement other EU funding instruments, such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived.

Special COVID-19 measures

Through the ESI, the EU is mobilising €2.7 billion. This is to be used to fund emergency healthcare support such as:
- jointly procuring, stockpiling and distributing essential resources;
- boosting the development of medication and testing methods;
- creating temporary hospitals and setting up temporary quarantine facilities; and
- assisting the transporting of patients cross-border to hospitals with free capacity.
It will also be possible to fund other actions depending on the evolving needs of EU countries, hospitals, doctors and patients.
The Commission may fund partner organisations, such as non‐governmental organisations, specialised services of EU countries, national authorities and other public bodies, international organisations and their agencies.
The range of potential beneficiaries of financial assistance for implementing ESI-funded actions has been widened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Where appropriate and necessary for the implementation of an action, organisations and entities with the necessary expertise, or active in the disaster relief sector may be eligible, such as:
- private service providers;
- equipment manufacturers; and
- scientists and research institutions.
The different options available for procuring supplies and services needed for providing emergency support include:
- joint procurement by the Commission and EU countries;
- procurement by the Commission on behalf of EU countries;
- procurement by the Commission; and
- sale, donation or rental of the procured supplies or services to EU countries or partner organisations selected by the Commission.
ESI financing can cover up to 100% of direct and indirect costs related to ESI-funded actions until the end of the activation period. Direct costs can include:
- the purchase, preparation, collection, transport, storage and distribution of goods and services; and
- investment costs of actions or projects directly related to achieving the aims of the relevant ESI activation.
To speed up the award and performance of contracts resulting from procurement procedures, the regulation allows for certain derogations to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, the EU’s Financial Regulation (see summary).

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

Regulation (EU) 2016/369 has applied since 16 March 2016.
Amending Regulation (EU) 2020/521 has applied since 1 February 2020.

BACKGROUND

The main reason for the adoption of this regulation in 2016 was the refugee and migration situation affecting the EU. The EU, and especially Greece, was overwhelmed at the time by the arrival of large numbers of refugees and migrants who required urgent humanitarian assistance. The European Commission allocated almost €650 million from 2016 to 2019 to partner organisations to support refugees and migrants in Greece.

For more information, see:

Emergency support within the EU (European Commission)
Crisis management and solidarity (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Humanitarian support: food, shelter, water, medicine and protection measures are some of the types of humanitarian assistance which can be directed to affected populations.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Regulation (EU) 2016/369 of 15 March 2016 on the provision of emergency support within the Union (OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, pp. 1-6)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) 2016/369 have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.