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Committee of the Regions (CoR)

UK floods illustrate need to change deadlines and scope of EU Solidarity Fund says Committee of the Regions

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ch_paint_comp_winner2Pavel Branda (CZ/ECR), Committee of the Regions (CoR) rapporteur and deputy mayor of Rádlo, recently produced an opinion on the EU Solidarity Fund outlining necessary steps to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Fund. The unanimously adopted opinion welcomed by the European Parliament, highlighted the need to change the way deadlines are calculated for applications to the Fund. It also highlighted the need to extend the deadline for the use of the Fund contributions and a widening of the scope of what the Fund should be used for.

Branda said: "The deadlines and scope of the Fund need to be changed to ensure that the Fund is responding to the needs on the ground. As illustrated by the long lasting floods in the UK, the current deadline for application to the Fund needing to be made 10 weeks after the first damages caused is not realistic. The deadline should be ten weeks after the last damages are caused. This way, in cases where disasters last longer than 10 weeks, the member state has the time to calculate the damages caused and submit the application. "

The Solidarity Fund is the EU's main tool for assisting member states affected by major natural disasters. South-east England was struck by floods in late December of 2013 and is still suffering. Wales and the south-west of Scotland have also experienced flooding.

Richard Ashworth, Conservative MEP for the South East and budget spokesman for his group in the European Parliament, said: "What is happening across the UK is nothing short of a tragedy. People are suffering and that suffering is protracted – the EU needs to respond to any request for assistance positively and as comprehensively as possible."

Cllr. Gordon Keymer, Leader of Tandridge District Council, Leader of the UK Delegation to the CoR and President of the CoR ECR Group said: "The long-lasting nature of the floods in the UK illustrates the need to adapt the Solidarity Fund so as to allow our affected areas to calculate the damages caused."

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