On Tuesday 17 December, the European Parliament gave the green light to new rules on Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE), which will make it easier for EU countries to channel funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund towards post-disaster reconstruction (see EUROPE 13533/15).
The report by Andrzej Buła (EPP, Polish) and Younous Omarjee (The Left, French) on this text was approved with 638 votes in favour, 10 against and 5 abstentions. Mayotte, the Valencia region and Central European countries affected by disasters could benefit from funding under this new instrument.
“Mayotte could be one of the first European regions to benefit from this scheme”, according to Mr Omarjee, supported by Isabelle Le Callennec (EPP, French).
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Nora Mebarek (S&D, French) was critical of the way in which France and Europe were dealing with this problem. “We need European unity and national unity in France to bring this debate to the fore and trigger emergency aid from RESTORE”, she said.
The ERDF could finance reconstruction projects up to 95% of their total cost. In order to provide rapid cash flow to those who need it, additional pre-financing of up to 25% of the total amount would be made available. The text allows for a more flexible use of European Social Fund ESF+ credits to support access to healthcare and provide basic necessities.
The European Parliament also approved (644 votes in favour, 6 against and 3 abstentions) the text allowing EU countries with unspent funds under rural development programmes (EAFRD) to accelerate the use of these funds to compensate for losses suffered by farmers and foresters whose production potential has been destroyed by at least 30% (see EUROPE 13522/12). This money will be paid in lump sums and will be covered entirely by EU funds. Payments to beneficiaries will be made by the end of 2025.
The two texts still have to be formally approved by the Council of the EU. They will enter into force one day after their publication in the Official Journal of the EU (RESTORE) and on the day of its publication (EAFRD).
Link to the RESTORE text: https://aeur.eu/f/euu (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)