Requested European assistance for Crete following natural disasters

Subject: Requested European assistance for Crete following natural disasters

Extreme weather conditions in Heraklion and Lasithi have caused incalculable damage, with inundated properties left covered in tonnes of mud.

Unprecedented rainfall has caused significant damage to infrastructures, tourist facilities and individual properties.

The tourist resort of Agia Pelagia being hardest hit.

So far, two lives have been lost. The final extent of the damage has not yet been calculated but is expected to exceed 1.5% of average GDP in the affected areas, which means that the EU Solidarity Fund can be mobilised.

In view of this:

1. Can funding to repair the impact of this natural disaster in Crete be provided through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM)1, which is intended to foster mutual assistance between Member States and support for the transfer of aid, as well as prevention and preparedness plans, simulation exercises and training programmes for civil protection and emergency management personnel?

2. Are any unused European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund appropriations available to be channelled into the strengthening of civil protection and the prevention and mitigation of flood disasters?

3. In addition to the Solidarity Fund, what other resources is it planning to deploy to support and complement measures by Greece to assist the island of Crete, which has yet again sustained major damage?

Submitted: 31.10.2022

1 Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union

Civil Protection Mechanism

Answer given by Mr Lenarčič on behalf of the European Commission

(19 December 2022)

1. The Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) (2) can, upon a request for assistance, coordinate the European response to disasters that have overwhelmed national response capacities. The UCPM cannot support repair of the impact of disasters, but it can provide financial support for developing prevention and preparedness projects, as well as new disaster risk reduction plans or tools. Member States can also participate in UCPM trainings and exercises.

2. Under the Operational Programme ‘Crete’ 2014-2020, EUR 6.5 million was allocated to the promotion of climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management, including for floods. The full amount has been contracted and projects are being implemented.

In the Programme ‘Crete’ 2021-2027, EUR 21.2 million is allocated from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for support to climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention. Crete may also benefit from the sectoral programmes ‘Civil Protection’ and ‘Environment and Climate change’.

⋅1∙ Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism

⋅2∙ Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism, OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, as

amended. Consolidated text as of 21.1.2021, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013D1313




| | )3. EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) (3) assistance can be requested by Greece within 12 weeks of the first damage occurred, if the total direct damage exceeds either 0.6% of Greek gross national income or 1.5% of the gross domestic product of the affected regions. The EUSF can cover part of emergency and recovery operations costs of public authorities, but not private damage. Greek authorities have not requested EUSF assistance for Crete. The European Regional and Development Fund and Cohesion Fund can support actions related to the rehabilitation of public infrastructures, in line with the Cohesion policy Regulations (4), but no damages to private properties.

⋅3∙ Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund, Art.3(2), Consolidated text, https://eur-

lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2002/2012/oj

⋅4∙ Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional

Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy. Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund. Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013.