Question écrite de
Mme Elena KOUNTOURA
-
Commission européenne
Subject: EU support to Greece for the devastating wildfires and floods
Over the last month Greece has been hit by natural disasters of biblical proportions. The huge fire that broke out in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufliou national park in the Evros region is the largest wildfire ever recorded in the EU and an unprecedented national and European ecological and environmental disaster. The floods in Thessaly, which submerged entire villages and the Thessalian plain, sadly led to loss of human life and have brought despair to residents, farmers, livestock farmers, beekeepers and professionals in the area. People's property, including commercial property such as livestock farms, tourist accommodation, businesses, farmland and ancient olive groves has been wiped out. The compensation promised by the Greek government is not enough to cover the damage caused by this huge national disaster.
In view of this:
1. What measures does the Commission intend to take to help those affected by the natural disasters in Greece? What European funds can be made available?
2. Are there any European financial instruments available to relieve residents, professionals and farmers from the devastation caused by the wildfires and floods?
Submitted: 8.9.2023
Answer given by Ms Ferreira on behalf of the European Commission
(6 October 2023)
1. As announced by the Commission President following her meeting with the Greek Prime Minister on 12 September 2023, Greece can mobilise up to EUR 2.25 billion of EU funds to alleviate the consequences of the disasters in the country. This amount includes public funding of EUR 1.6 billion earmarked for risk prevention and management actions under the 2021- 2027 Cohesion Policy thematic and regional programmes of Greece. A budget of over EUR 680 million will be used through the dedicated programme of Civil Protection to finance such actions.
The Commission is working in close cooperation with the Greek authorities to swiftly mobilise and re-allocate available resources from the 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy funds to alleviate the consequences of natural disasters.
The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) can be activated at the request of Greece within 12 weeks from the first damage occurred, demonstrating that the total direct damage exceeds the thresholds (1). The EUSF may cover the costs of emergency and recovery operations by the public authorities. Private damage is not eligible.
2. The Greek Rural Development Programme 2014-2022 (2) and the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023- 2027 (3) provide for support for investments aiming at restoring the agricultural and forestry potential following natural disasters, adverse climatic or catastrophic events and for investments in appropriate preventive actions. The Commission can take emergency market measures financed from the agricultural reserve to resolve specific problems and make available support to the most affected farmers, as was the case with the exceptional support package (4) in July 2023.
1 ∙ ⸱ Specified in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 — Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union
Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9 2 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 487). 3 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1) 4 ∙ ⸱
Regulation (EC) No 2023/1465 providing for emergency financial support for the agricultural sectors affected by specific problems impacting on the economic viability of agricultural producers.