52012DC0523

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1........... Introduction.................................................................................................................... 2

2........... Pending applications from 2010...................................................................................... 3

3........... New applications received in 2011.................................................................................. 5

4........... Financing........................................................................................................................ 6

5........... Monitoring...................................................................................................................... 7

6........... Closures......................................................................................................................... 8

7........... Communication on the Future of the EU Solidarity Fund.................................................. 9

8........... Conclusions.................................................................................................................. 10

Annex 1: Thresholds for major disasters applicable in 2011 (based on 2009 figures for Gross National Income) 11

Annex 2: EU Solidarity Fund Pending Applications from 2010 and New Applications decided in 2011   12

Annex 3: EU Solidarity Fund Applications since 2002.................................................................. 13

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

European Union Solidarity Fund Annual Report 2011

1.           Introduction

Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (hereinafter "the Regulation") provides that a report on the activity of the Fund in the previous year be presented to the European Parliament and to the Council. The present report presents the activities of the Fund in 2011 covering, as in previous reports, the treatment of pending and new applications and the assessment of implementation reports with a view to preparing these for closure.

In terms of the number of applications, 2011 was a quieter year. Only four applications for Solidarity Fund aid were made in the course of the year, while in 2010 a total of 17 applications had been presented. As some of these applications were received late in 2010, their assessment continued into 2011. They concerned applications from France (Var flooding), Czech Republic (autumn flooding), Germany (Sachsen flooding), Croatia and Slovenia (September flooding) and Hungary (red sludge spill). The assessment of these cases was completed during 2011 and is described in this report.

The four cases received in 2011 concerned two applications from Italy (Veneto flooding, Liguria and Tuscany flooding), from Spain (Lorca earthquake) and from Cyprus (naval base explosion). In the course of 2011, the Commission completed its assessment and accepted the applications from Italy (Veneto flooding) and Spain (Lorca earthquake). Decisions on the second Italian application (Liguria and Tuscany flooding) as well as on the application from Cyprus were taken by the Commission early in 2012.

In 2011, the Commission granted Solidarity Fund aid for 11 disasters amounting to a total of EUR 239,9 million and proposed further aid amounting to EUR 38 million for two more cases.

2.           Pending applications from 2010

France (Var flooding)

On 15 and 16 June 2010, parts of southern France were hit by intense rainfall. On 24 August 2010, the French authorities submitted an application for Solidarity Fund assistance. The application was limited to the hardest hit zone in the Département du Var and composed of nine municipalities plus two areas at infra-communal level, forming together a single coherent area clearly identified in the application. Total direct damage caused by the disaster, within the designated zone, was estimated between EUR 703,2 million and EUR 778,2 million. For the purpose of assessing the application the Commission used the average damage figure of EUR 740,7 million. The estimate of total direct damage thus represented 21% of the normal threshold for mobilising the Solidarity Fund applicable to France in 2010 of EUR 3,467 billion (i.e. EUR 3 billion in 2002 prices). As damage remained below the threshold, the French application was examined under the exceptional criteria for "extraordinary regional disasters". The assessment revealed that the French application presented no evidence demonstrating that the economic stability of the Département du Var was affected in a serious and lasting manner such as by a significant drop in employment or regional GDP. For this reason, on 4 March 2011 the Commission decided that the French application did not meet the conditions for exceptionally mobilising the Fund and informed the French authorities accordingly.

Czech Republic (autumn flooding 2010)

In August 2010, the northern parts of the Czech Republic, namely the Liberec Region (Liberecký kraj) and the neighbouring District Děčín belonging to the Ústí nad Labem Region (Ústecký kraj), were affected by unusually heavy rainfall which led to severe flooding, resulting in significant damage to public infrastructure, private homes, agriculture and businesses. On 14 October 2010, the Czech authorities submitted an application for Solidarity Fund assistance. The Czech authorities estimate the total direct damage at EUR 436,5 million, representing 53% of the normal threshold for mobilising the Solidarity Fund applicable to the Czech Republic in 2010 of EUR 824,03 million (i.e. 0,6% of GNI based on 2008 data). The application was therefore examined under the exceptional criteria for "extraordinary regional disasters". The application demonstrated that the criteria whereby a) the majority of the population in the affected zone must be affected and b) that the disaster caused serious and lasting repercussions on the living conditions and the economic stability were met. On 23 March 2011, the Commission proposed to mobilise financial assistance of EUR 10,912 million. The corresponding amending budget procedure was completed on 14 July 2011. Following the conclusion of the Implementation Agreement with the Czech Republic the payment of the grant could be made on 22 December 2011.

Germany (Sachsen flooding)

In August and September 2010, the eastern parts of Germany, mostly in Saxony, experienced heavy rainfall triggering floods causing damage to public infrastructure, private homes, agriculture and businesses. The application submitted by the German authorities on 15 October 2010 showed that a cumulative application for three different disasters was presented, and that these events concerned different areas inside Saxony with only partial overlap. Total cumulated direct damage for the flooding events was estimated at EUR 937,8 million, thus representing nearly one third of the normal threshold for mobilising the Solidarity Fund applicable to Germany in 2010 of EUR 3,467 billion (i.e. EUR 3 billion in 2002 prices). While the provision of the Regulation refers to the consequences of a (single) disaster the Commission has always accepted that a succession of similar events within a short period of time having the same origin or affecting the same area can be regarded as a single event within the meaning of the Regulation. Events of distinct origin affecting different areas should however be assessed separately. On 4 April 2011, the Commission decided that the three flooding events referred to in the application could not be considered to be an extraordinary disaster within the meaning of the Regulation. The German authorities were informed accordingly.

Slovenia (autumn flooding 2010)

From 17 to 22 September 2010, Slovenia was affected by a severe flooding disaster causing widespread damages mostly to cultural heritage, public infrastructure and private homes. The Slovene authorities applied for Solidarity Fund assistance on 26 November 2010. As the estimated total direct damage of EUR 251,3 million exceeded the threshold for mobilising the Solidarity Fund applicable to Slovenia (i.e. EUR 217,67 million, data of 2008) the disaster qualified as a “major natural disaster” under the terms of the Regulation. On 24 February 2011, the Commission decided to accept the application from Slovenia and to grant financial assistance amounting to EUR 7,460 million. The amending budget procedure was completed on 14 July 2011. Following the conclusion of the Implementation Agreement with Slovenia the grant could be paid out on 8 December 2011.

Croatia (autumn flooding 2010)

Croatia faced intense rainfall from 17 to 22 September 2010 causing severe floods that particularly struck the area of Western Croatia. As a country at the time of application in the process of negotiating its accession to the EU, Croatia is, in principle, eligible for Solidarity Fund assistance. The disaster caused significant damage to infrastructure, to the agriculture sector and to private property. Total direct damage was estimated at EUR 47,003 million. As this amount is below the threshold of EUR 275,80 million (i.e. 0,6% of Croatia's GNI of 2008) the disaster does not qualify as a "major natural disaster". However, the flooding in Croatia was the same which led to the major disaster in Slovenia. Therefore, the condition set out in Article 2(2) second subparagraph of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, whereby a country affected by the same major disaster as a neighbouring country may exceptionally benefit from Solidarity Fund aid, was found to be met and the Commission decided to grant financial assistance to Croatia amounting to EUR 1,175 million. The amending budget procedure was completed on 14 July 2011. Following the conclusion of the Implementation Agreement with the Republic of Croatia the payment of the grant was made on 1 December 2011.

Hungary (red sludge spill)

On 4 October 2010, a red sludge reservoir of the Magyar Alumínium Zrt (MAL Ltd.) aluminium plant near the Hungarian village of Kolontár burst, triggering a massive spill of red sludge which inundated several settlements. The disaster caused serious pollution, residential homes and a bridge were damaged, hundreds of people were evacuated, 286 people were injured and ten fatalities were reported. The Hungarian authorities decided to submit an application for Solidarity Fund assistance which was received by the Commission on 13 December 2010.

The total direct damage caused by the disaster was estimated at EUR 174,32 million. The normal threshold for mobilising the Solidarity Fund for Hungary in 2010 was EUR 590,71 million (i.e. 0,6% of Hungary's GNI of 2008). As the direct damage of the disaster was considerably lower than the normal threshold, Hungary submitted the application under the “extraordinary regional disaster” criteria.

The Regulation states in Article 2 (1) that it applies mainly to major natural disasters[1] and, therefore, does not from the outset exclude technological disasters from its field of application. These could, however, only be considered eligible if further conditions are met.

Article 3(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 in principle limits payments from the Fund to financing measures alleviating non-insurable damages. The damages caused by the red sludge spill were however caused by the defect of an industrial installation. Independent of the question of any individual responsibility, the owners and/or operators of the aluminium plant should have insured themselves against risks emanating from running the installation (absolute liability). The damage caused by the red sludge spill must therefore be considered insurable. Moreover, the application did not explore the question of liability. Article 8(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 however obliges beneficiary States to seek all possible compensation from third parties. Article 3(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 stipulates that payments from the Fund relating to the cost of damage subsequently met by a third party shall be recovered. Under the "polluter pays principle", the owner and/or operator of an industrial complex should be held liable for any damage emanating from that installation independent of any possible personal responsibilities or insurance coverage. The Solidarity Fund must therefore not intervene for such damage. For the reasons set out above, the Hungarian red sludge disaster could not be considered as meeting the criteria of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 for mobilising the Solidarity Fund. Hungary was informed of the Commission's decision accordingly.

3.           New applications received in 2011

During the course of 2011, applications from Italy (Veneto flooding), Spain (Lorca earthquake) and Cyprus (naval base explosion) were received. One more application from Italy (Liguria and Tuscany flooding) reached the Commission just before the end of 2011. The assessment of the applications from Cyprus and Italy (Liguria and Tuscany flooding) could however only be completed in 2012 and will be presented in the Annual Report 2012.

Italy (Veneto flooding)

During the period from 31 October to 2 November 2010, the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy was hit by torrential rainfall and aggravated by melting snow which triggered rivers to burst their banks flooding widespread areas, causing damage to road and infrastructure networks, agriculture, businesses and residential homes. Extensive damage was recorded throughout Veneto, while the river basin of the Bacchiglione including the urban areas of Vicenza and Padova was particularly hard hit. Subsequently, Italy submitted an application for financial assistance from the Solidarity Fund which was received at the Commission on 7 January 2011. A significantly revised application was received mid-August 2011. Following a rigorous examination of the application, the Commission came to the conclusion that the Italian application qualifies as an "extraordinary regional disaster”. Total direct damage, as accepted by the Commission, amounts to EUR 676,36 million, representing 19% of the normal threshold applicable to Italy in 2011 of EUR 3,536 billion (i.e. EUR 3 billion in 2002 prices). Consequently, the Commission approved the Italian application on 17 November 2011 and proposed mobilising Solidarity Fund assistance amounting to EUR 16,9 million. The amending budget procedure was completed on 13 December 2011. However, budget appropriations could only be made available mid-February 2012. Following the conclusion of the Implementation Agreement with Italy the grant could be paid out on 15 June 2012.

Spain (Lorca earthquake)

On 11 May 2011, two consecutives earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.2 affected the Spanish town of Lorca, claiming the lives of nine people and causing high damages. Spain submitted an application for financial assistance from the Solidarity Fund which was received by the Commission on 20 July 2011, followed by an updated version on 1 August 2011. Total direct damage caused by the disaster as recognised by the Commission amounts to EUR 842,84 million, representing 23,84% of the normal threshold applicable to Spain in 2011 of EUR 3,536 billion (i.e. EUR 3 billion in 2002 prices). The Commission decided on 17 November 2011 to accept the Spanish application based on the exceptional provisions for "extraordinary regional disaster” and proposed mobilising Solidarity Fund assistance amounting to EUR 21,1 million. The amending budget procedure was completed on 13 December 2011. However, budget appropriations could only be made available mid-February 2012. The payment of the grant will be executed once the implementation agreement between the Commission and Spain is signed.

4.           Financing

In 2011, grants from the Solidarity Fund were paid out for six cases for which applications had been received in the summer of 2010. The corresponding Preliminary Draft Amending Budget No 1 for the year 2011 was finally completed on 6 April 2011[2]. Payments were made in the course of summer and autumn 2011.

For three more applications received in late 2010, the Fund was also mobilised. Preliminary Draft Amending Budget No 2 for the year 2011 covers the floods affecting the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Croatia (autumn floods of 2010) and was approved by the Budgetary Authority on 14 July 2011. The payments were made at the end of 2011 after adoption of the grant decisions and after the implementation agreements were signed[3].

As regards applications received in 2011, the Fund could be mobilised in the case of Italy (Veneto flooding) and Spain (Lorca earthquake). The corresponding Preliminary Draft Amending Budget No 7 for the year 2011 was approved by the Budgetary Authority on 13 December 2011[4]. However, payments were delayed because budget appropriations had to be carried over to 2012 and implementation agreements had to be completed.

Solidarity Fund grants approved in 2011

Beneficiary State || Disaster || Category || Amount granted in 2011 (EUR)

Slovakia || spring flooding 2010 || major || 20 430 841

Poland || spring flooding 2010 || major || 105 567 155

Czech Republic || spring flooding 2010 || neighbouring || 5 111 401

Hungary || spring flooding 2010 || major || 22 485 772

Croatia || spring flooding 2010 || neighbouring || 3 825 983

Romania || spring flooding 2010 || major || 24 967 741

Czech Republic || autumn flooding 2010 || regional || 10 911 939

Slovenia || autumn flooding 2010 || major || 7 459 637

Croatia || autumn flooding 2010 || neighbouring || 1 175 071

Italy || Veneto flooding 2010 || regional || 16 908 925

Spain || Lorca earthquake 2011 || regional || 21 070 950

TOTAL || 239 915 415

5.           Monitoring

In the course of 2011 the Commission carried out monitoring visits to five beneficiary countries of Solidarity Fund grants in order to be informed of the systems put in place by the responsible national authorities to implement the respective Solidarity Fund grants and to discuss specific questions by the implementing authorities:

– to Dublin (Ireland) on 1 July 2011 relating to the EUR 13 million grant following the flooding of November 2009.

– to Poitiers (France) on 12 July 2011 relating to the EUR 35,6 million grant following storm Xynthia in February 2010.

– to Madeira (Portugal) on 1 September 2011 following the EUR 31,3 million grant for the mud- and landslides in February 2010.

– to Bucharest (Romania) from 7 to 8 November 2011 relating to the EUR 25 million grant made in 2011 relating to the flooding disaster of June 2010.

– to Budapest (Hungary) on 24 November 2011 relating to the EUR 22,5 million grant following the flooding of May 2010.

The Commission visits were generally very much welcomed and gave reasonable assurance that the relevant authorities were carrying out the implementation and controls in a transparent and correct manner, and in respect of the rules imposed by the Solidarity Fund Regulation, the grant decision and the implementation agreement.

Upon receipt of the final reports the Commission will conduct further analyses and take appropriate measures where necessary.

6.           Closures

Article 8(2) of Solidarity Fund Regulation states that no later than six months after the expiry of the one-year period from the date of disbursement of the grant, the beneficiary State shall present a report on the financial execution of the grant (“implementation report”) with a statement justifying the expenditure (“validity statement”). At the end of this procedure, the Commission shall wind up the assistance from the Fund.

In the course of 2011, three Solidarity Fund files were closed.

(1) In the case relating to the flooding disaster in Bulgaria of spring 2005, financial aid amounting to EUR 9,7 million was granted and the implementation report was received on 17 January 2008. The auditing work of the Bulgarian authorities revealed ineligible expenditure of EUR 225 150. Consequently, and in agreement with the Bulgarian authorities, the Commission initiated a recovery procedure and the amount of EUR 225 150 was recovered from the Bulgarian authorities on 29 December 2008. The Commission's further analysis and assessment were completed in 2011. The Commission wound up the case in February 2011.

(2) As regards the closure of assistance of the case relating to the wind storm affecting the Island of La Réunion (France) in 2007, for which financial aid of EUR 5,29 million was granted, the implementation report was received on 13 July 2009. As a result of ineligible expenditure declared by the French authorities, the expenditure was EUR 53 680 short of the amount granted. After further analyses and assessment of the final report, and given the fact that the French authorities did not object to the Commission's closure letter within the two months deadline set, the Commission initiated the recovery procedure for the amount of EUR 53 680. The amount was received by the Commission and the file was wound up in June 2011.

(3) With regard to the closure of the Hungarian case of 2006 relating to the flooding disaster of April 2006, the Commission granted financial aid of EUR 15 million. The implementation report was received by the Commission on 18 May 2009. The Hungarian authorities stated in their final report that the expenditure declared was EUR 4 598 short of the amount granted. Consequently, and after further analyses and checks carried out by the Commission the amount of EUR 4 598 was recovered from the Hungarian authorities. The Commission wound up the case in September 2011.

In 2011, the Commission received final implementation reports for grants made in 2009 from France (storm Klaus 2009) and from Italy (Abruzzo earthquake 2009). At the end of the period covered by this annual report the assessment of these implementation reports was on-going.

7.           Communication on the Future of the EU Solidarity Fund

On 6 October 2011 the Commission presented its Communication on the Future of the EU Solidarity Fund[5] which aims to make the Fund more responsive in the face of disasters, more visible and its operational criteria clearer.

In 2005, the Commission had already presented a legislative proposal for an amended Solidarity Fund Regulation, which proved to be unacceptable to the majority of Member States. The Commission has therefore withdrawn that proposal.

The Commission still considers that important improvements to the operation of the EU Solidarity Fund could be achieved with only a minimum of adjustment to the current Regulation, thus maintaining its rationale and character and without touching on matters of finance and the volume of permitted spending. The proposed adjustment to the Regulation would not lead to any change in the eligible operations financed from the Fund, such as the immediate repair of vital infrastructures and the costs of deploying response assets. Elements of the 2005 proposal such as the widening of the scope, the modification of the thresholds or abandoning the category known as regional disasters are not included in the Communication.

The Communication proposes the following adjustments:

· a clearly defined scope for the Solidarity Fund limiting it to natural disasters and their consequences. "Cascading effects" such as technological disasters originating in natural disasters would remain eligible.

· a simple new definition for regional disasters based on a single objective (GDP-based) criterion; this would do away with the lacking clarity under the current provisions about the conditions for exceptionally mobilising the EUSF.

· the introduction of advances (upon request) and speeding up payments to improve the effectiveness of the EUSF and increase its visibility.

· a clearer response to slowly unfolding disasters such as drought.

· administrative simplification and time gains by merging grant decisions and implementation agreements.

· the Commission would also like to explore with Member States whether the Solidarity Fund could contribute towards increased disaster and climate change resilience by introducing incentives for increased prevention efforts.

· The Commission is also open to discussing any other elements that Member States might wish to include with a view to making the Fund more effective.

At the time of adoption of this report, discussions are taking place on the Communication in the Council, the European Parliament and other stakeholders. The Commission is examining the options for a new legislative proposal.

8.           Conclusions

While in 2011 the Commission received only a smaller number of new Solidarity Fund applications, dealing with the record number of applications from 2010 extended well into 2011. These applications confirmed many of the issues and tendencies made out and reported on in earlier years.

Major disasters – the principle target of the Solidarity Fund – are relatively simple to assess on the grounds of the single hard criterion (total direct damage above a threshold) necessary to approve aid. They form however only about one third of applications received.

The large majority of applications concerns smaller disasters, mostly based on the criteria for so-called extraordinary regional disasters which the legislator had intended to be the rare exception and for which only 7.5% of the Fund's annual budgetary resources are available. The conditions laid down in the Regulation for accepting such applications are complicated and rather difficult to meet. As a result, the majority of regional disaster applications are rejected by the Commission. Clearer and simpler criteria on the basis of which aid to regional disaster can be granted would be useful.

It has become evident once again that applications relating to industrial accidents and other non-natural disasters do not normally meet the eligibility criteria of the Regulation because of the polluter pays principle and the exclusion of insurable damage from Solidarity Fund aid. As already addressed in the October Communication, a more clearly defined scope limiting it to natural disasters and their consequences would eliminate legal uncertainty.

The treatment of applications that are received later in a given year cannot normally be completed during the same year. The provision of the Regulation according to which 25% of the EUR 1 billion allocated to the Fund annually may not be spent before 1 October in order not to deplete the financial resources prematurely is therefore factually without effect. Further reflection needs to be given to how grants could be paid out more quickly.

The Communication on the Future of the Solidarity Fund contains many elements for improving the legal framework and, consequently, the effectiveness of the Fund. Therefore, the Communication paves the ground for a possible legislative proposal aiming to make the Fund more responsive in the face of disasters, more visible and its operational criteria clearer.

Annex 1: Thresholds for major disasters applicable in 2011 (based on 2009 figures for Gross National Income)

|| || || (Million EUR)

Country || GNI 2009* || 0.6% of GNI* || Major disaster threshold 2011*

AT || ÖSTERREICH || 271 459 || 1 628.756 || 1 628.756

BE || BELGIË/BELGIQUE || 342 261 || 2 053.566 || 2 053.566

BG || BULGARIA || 33 113 || 198.678 || 198.678

CY || KYPROS || 16 641 || 99.845 || 99.845

CZ || ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA || 129 046 || 774.274 || 774.274

DE || DEUTSCHLAND || 2 430 940 || 14 585.640 || 3 535.904**

DK || DANMARK || 226 447 || 1 358.684 || 1 358.684

EE || EESTI || 13 538 || 81.230 || 81.230

EL || ELLADA || 226 644 || 1 359.863 || 1 359.863

ES || ESPAÑA || 1 029 541 || 6 177.246 || 3 535.904**

FI || SUOMI/FINLAND || 171 383 || 1 028.298 || 1 028.298

FR || FRANCE || 1 922 845 || 11 537.070 || 3 535.904**

HR || HRVATSKA || 43 572 || 261.431 || 261.431

HU || MAGYARORSZÁG || 88 291 || 529.747 || 529.747

IE || ÉIRE/IRELAND || 132 601 || 795.607 || 795.607

IS || ICELAND || 7 787 || 46.723 || 46.723

IT || ITALIA || 1 494 576 || 8 967.457 || 3 535.904**

LT || LIETUVA || 27 010 || 162.057 || 162.057

LU || LUXEMBOURG (G.D.) || 26 765 || 160.590 || 160.590

LV || LATVIJA || 19 954 || 119.723 || 119.723

MT || MALTA || 5 451 || 32.704 || 32.704

NL || NEDERLAND || 556 518 || 3 339.108 || 3 339.108

PL || POLSKA || 299 518 || 1 797.108 || 1 797.108

PT || PORTUGAL || 162 331 || 973.986 || 973.986

RO || ROMÂNIA || 113 652 || 681.913 || 681.913

SE || SVERIGE || 296 151 || 1 776.908 || 1 776.908

SI || SLOVENIJA || 34 704 || 208.224 || 208.224

SK || SLOVENSKO || 62 575 || 375.452 || 375.452

TR || TÜRKIYE || 330 413 || 1 982.480 || 1 982.480

UK || UNITED KINGDOM || 1 587 886 || 9 527.315 || 3 535.904**

*Thresholds are defined as the lower of 0.6% of GNI or EUR 3 billion in 2002 prices.

*Rounded figures

** ~ EUR 3 billion in 2002 prices Source: Eurostat

Annex 2: EU Solidarity Fund Pending Applications from 2010 and New Applications decided in 2011

Year || 2010 || 2011

Applicant Country || France || Czech Republic || Germany || Slovenia || Croatia || Hungary || Italy || Spain || Cyprus || Italy

Name and nature of disaster || Var flooding || Autumn flooding || Sachsen flooding || Autumn flooding || Autumn flooding || Red sludge spill || Veneto flooding || Lorca earthquake || Naval base explosion || Liguria & Tuscany flooding

First damage date || 15/06/2010 || 7/08/2010 || 7/08/2010 || 17/09/2010 || 17/09/2011 || 4/10/2010 || 31/10/2010 || 11/05/2011 || 11/07/2011 || 25/10/2011

Application date || 24/08/2010 || 14/10/2010 || 15/10/2010 || 26/11/2010 || 25/11/2010 || 13/12/2010 || 7/01/2011 || 20/07/2011 || 19/09/2011 || 22/12/2011

Complete information available on || - || - || - || - || - || - || 11/08/2011 || 1/08/2011 || 24/11/2011 20/01/2012 || -

Major disaster threshold (m€) || 3466.57 || 824.03 || 3466.57 || 217.67 || 275.80 || 590.71 || 3535.90 || 3535.90 || 99.85 || 3535.90

Total direct damage (m€)[6] || 740.70 || 436.48 || 937.77 || 251.30 || 47 || 174.32 || 676.36 || 842.84 || - || 722.47

Category || (regional) || regional || (regional) || major || neighbouring || (regional) || regional || regional || (major)/non-natural || regional

Damage/threshold || 21.37% || 52.97% || 27.05% || 115.45% || 17.04% || 29.51% || 19.13% || 23.84% || - || 20.43%

Cost of eligible emergency operations (m€) || 197.54 || 334.77 || 489 || 171.27 || 28.65 || - || 573.23 || 104 || - || 511.43

Eligible cost/ total damage || 26.67% || 76.70% || 52.14% || 68.15% || 60.95% || - || 84.75% || 12.34% || - || 70.79%

Aid/eligible cost || - || 3.26% || - || 4.36% || 4.10% || - || 2.95% || 20.26% || - || 3.53%

Aid rate (% of total damage) || - || 2.5% || - || 2.97% || 2.5% || - || 2.5% || 2.5% || - || 2.5%

Date of Grant Decision || rejected || 22/08/2011 || rejected || 19/09/2011 || 19/08/2011 || rejected || 28/03/2012 || 9/03/2012 || rejected || pending

Date of Implementation Agreement (adopted) || - || 11/10/2011 || - || 4/11/2011 || 14/09/2011 || - || 23/04/2012 || 26/06/2012 || - || pending

Aid granted (EUR) || - || 10 911 939 || - || 7 459 637 || 1 175 071 || - || 16 908 925 || 21 070 950 || - || 18 061 682

Annex 3: EU Solidarity Fund Applications since 2002

Year || Country || Nature of the disaster || Damage (million EUR) || Category || Aid granted (million EUR) ||

2 0 0 2 || 1 || AT || Flooding || 2 900 || major || 134 ||

2 || CZ || Flooding || 2 300 || major || 129 ||

3 || FR || Flooding (Le Gard) || 835 || regional || 21 ||

4 || DE || Flooding || 9 100 || major || 444 ||

Total aid for 2002 applications || || || 728 ||

2 0 0 3 || 1 || ES || Oil spill (Prestige) || 436 || regional || 8.626 ||

2 || IT || Earthquake (Molise/Apulia) || 1 558 || regional || 30.826 ||

3 || IT || Volcanic eruption (Etna) || 894 || regional || 16.798 ||

4 || IT || Flooding (North Italy) || (1 900) || (major) || Rejected ||

5 || GR || Adverse winter weather || (not clear) || (major ?) || Rejected ||

6 || PT || Forest fires || 1 228 || major || 48.539 ||

7 || FR || Forest fires (Southern France) || 531 || (regional) || Rejected ||

8 || ES || Forest fires (Portuguese border) || 53 || neighbouring country || 1.331 ||

9 || MT || Flooding || 30 || major || 0.961 ||

10 || IT || Flooding (Friuli Venezia-Giulia) || (525) || (regional) || Rejected ||

Total aid for 2003 applications || || || 107.081 ||

2 0 0 4 || 1 || FR || Flooding (Rhone delta) || 785 || regional || 19.625 ||

2 || ES || Flooding (Malaga) || (73) || (regional) || Rejected ||

3-9 || ES || Forest fires (7 applications) || (480) || (regional) || all 7 rejected ||

10 || SK || Flooding || (29) || (regional) || Rejected ||

11 || SI || Earthquake || (13) || (regional) || withdrawn ||

Total aid for 2004 applications || || || 19.625 ||

2 0 0 5 || 1 || SK || Storm (Tatras) || 203 || major || 5.668 ||

2 || IT || Flooding (Sardinia) || (223. over-estimated) || (regional) || Rejected ||

3 || EE || Storm || 48 || major || 1.29 ||

4 || LV || Storm || 193 || major || 9.487 ||

5 || SE || Storm "Gudrun" || 2 297 || major || 81.725 ||

2 0 0 5 || 6 || LT || Storm || 15 || neighbouring country || 0.379 ||

7 || GR || Evros flooding || (112) || (regional) || Rejected ||

8 || RO || Spring flooding || 489 || major || 18.798 ||

9 || BG || Spring flooding || 222 || major || 9.722 ||

10 || BG || Summer flooding || 237 || major || 10.632 ||

11 || RO || Summer flooding || 1 050 || major || 52.4 ||

12 || AT || Flooding (Tyrol/Vorarlberg) || 592 || regional || 14.799 ||

Total aid for 2005 applications || || || 204.905 ||

2 0 0 6 || 1 || UK || Buncefield oil depot explosion || (700) || (regional) || withdrawn ||

2 || GR || Evros flooding || 372 || regional || 9.306 ||

3 || HU || Flooding || 519 || major || 15.064 ||

4 || ES || Galicia forest fires || (91) || (regional) || Rejected ||

Total aid for 2006 applications || || || 24.370 ||

2 0 0 7 || 1 || DE || Storm "Kyrill" || 4750 || major || 166.9 ||

2 || FR || La Réunion. Cyclone "Gamede" || 211 || regional || 5.29 ||

3 || ES || El Hierro flooding || (18) || (regional) || Rejected ||

4 || ES || La Mancha flooding || (66) || (regional) || Rejected ||

5 || UK || Flooding || 4 612 || major || 162.387 ||

6 || CY || Forest fires || (38) || (regional) || Rejected ||

7 || ES || Forest Fires Canary islands || (144) || (regional) || Rejected ||

8-16 || IT || 9 applications for forest fires in 9 regions || - || (regional) || not admissible. deadline missed ||

17 || FR || Storm Dean/Martinique || 509 || regional || 12.78 ||

18 || GR || Forest fires || 2 118 || major || 89.769 ||

19 || SI || Flooding || 233 || major || 8.254 ||

Total aid for 2007 applications || || || 445.380 ||

2 0 0 8 || 1 || CY || Drought || 165.4 || major || 7.605 ||

2 || RO || Floods || 471.4 || regional || 11.785 ||

Total aid for 2008 applications || || || 19.390 ||

|| || || ||

|| 2 0 0 9 || 1 || FR || Storm Klaus || 3 805.5 || major || 109.377

|| 2 || IT || Abruzzo earthquake || 10 212.0 || major || 493.771

|| 3 || GR || Forest fires || (152.8) || (regional) || Rejected

|| 4 || CY || Storms || (2.6) || (regional) || Rejected

|| 5 || GR || Evia floods || (83.2) || (regional) || Rejected

|| 6 || IT || Messina Mudslide || (598.9) || (regional) || Rejected

|| Total aid for 2009 applications || || || 603.148

|| 2 0 1 0 || 1 || IE || Flooding 2009 || 520.9 || regional || 13.022

|| 2 || IT || Tuscany flooding || (211.7) || (regional) || Rejected

|| 3 || ES || Andalusia flooding || (709.7) || (regional) || Rejected

|| 4 || PT || Madeira mud- and landslides || 1 080 || major || 31.256

|| 5 || FR || Storm Xynthia || 1 425 || regional || 35.636

|| 6 || SK || Flooding || 649.9 || major || 20.431

|| 7 || PL || Flooding || 2 993.7 || major || 105.567

|| 8 || CZ || Flooding (spring) || 204.5 || neighbouring country || 5.111

|| 9 || HU || Flooding || 719.3 || major || 22.486

|| 10 || HR || Flooding (spring) || 153.04 || neighbouring country || 3.826

|| 11 || FR || Var flooding || (703-778) || (regional) || Rejected

|| 12 || RO || Flooding || 875.75 || major || 24.968

|| 13 || CZ || Flooding (autumn) || 436.5 || regional || 10.912

|| 14 || DE || Sachsen Flooding || (937.7) || (regional) || Rejected

|| 15 || HR || Flooding (autumn) || 47 || neighbouring country || 1.175

|| 16 || SI || Flooding (autumn) || 251.3 || major || 7.460

|| 17 || HU || Red Sludge Spill || (174.32) || (regional) || Rejected

|| Total aid for 2010 applications || || || 281.849

|| 2 0 1 1 || 1 || IT || Veneto Flooding 2010 || 676.36 || regional || 16.909

|| 2 || ES || Lorca earthquake 2011 || 842.84 || regional || 21.071

|| 3 || CY || Naval base explosion 2011 || (357) || (major/non-natural) || Rejected

|| 4 || IT || Liguria & Tuscany flooding 2011 || 722.5 || regional || 18.062

|| Total aid for 2011 applications || || || 56.042

|| Grand total of aid approved since 2002                            EUR 2 489.798835 million

[1]               Article 2(1) states: “At the request of a Member State or country involved in accession negotiations with the European Union, hereinafter referred to as "beneficiary State", assistance from the Fund may be mainly mobilised when a major natural disaster with serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the economy in one or more regions or one or more countries occurs on the territory of that State.”

[2]               Amending Budget (AB) No 1 for the year 2011 covers the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 182 388 893 in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the effects of heavy rainfalls in Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Romania. It was adopted by the European Parliament on 6.04.2011. COM(2011)9. OJ L 172 of 30.06.2011.

[3]               The previous draft amending budget No. 2 to the budget 2011 (COM(2011)154) has been adopted as amending budget no. 3 by the European Parliament on 14.07.2011. It covers the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 19 546 647 in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the effects of heavy rainfalls in Slovenia, Croatia and the Czech Republic. OJ L 213 of 19.08.2011.

[4]               Amending Budget (AB) No 7 for the year 2011 covers the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund for an amount of EUR 37 979 875 in commitment and payment appropriations relating to the earthquake in Murcia, Spain (EUR 21 070 950) and flooding in the Veneto, Italy (EUR 16 908 925). It was adopted by the European Parliament on 13.12.2011. COM(2011)796 of 21.11.2011. OJ L 62 of 2.03.2012.

[5]               COM(2011)613

[6]               Total direct damage amount accepted by the Commission