Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, on behalf of the European Commission, has outlined the EU's financial mechanisms available to support the Greek regions of Amyntaio and Evros following severe damage from persistent heavy rainfall. In a written answer to a parliamentary question by MEP Fredis Beleris (PPE), Fitto detailed how the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 will manage natural disaster response through National and Regional Partnership Plans and a new EU Facility, with a cascade mechanism to mobilise resources progressively depending on crisis scale. He also confirmed that under the current 2021-2027 framework, the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism remain available for emergency response and reconstruction.
The answer, dated 27 April 2026, responds to Beleris's question submitted on 24 February 2026, which highlighted the disproportionate burden on remote rural regions that also form EU external borders. Beleris had asked whether the Commission intends to create new financial tools in the next MFF, simplify disbursement procedures for existing funds, and support direct funding for technical assistance to local authorities for prevention and response.
Fitto's response provides concrete proposals for the 2028-2034 period: a cascade mechanism within Partnership Plans and the EU Facility, allowing Member States to first reprogram existing measures, then use flexibility allocations, and finally access additional funds from a budgetary cushion. For the current period, he reiterated that EUSF requests must be submitted within 12 weeks of the first damage and demonstrate that total direct damage exceeds regulatory thresholds. The Commission commits to guiding affected countries and assessing requests swiftly.
Policy orientation and ambition Fitto's answer signals a moderate increase in EU-level coordination for disaster response, with the new cascade mechanism designed to streamline access to funds without creating entirely new standalone instruments. The approach balances national sovereignty (Member States manage initial reprogramming) with EU solidarity (top-up from the Facility). The Commission stops short of promising simplified procedures for the current period, instead pointing to existing tools like EUSF and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, which provides technical assistance to local authorities for climate hazard assessment.
Expected institutional follow-up The answer is declarative rather than legislative at this stage. The concrete proposals for 2028-2034 will be debated as part of the MFF negotiations, with the European Parliament and Council expected to scrutinise the cascade mechanism and funding levels. For the current period, affected Greek authorities may submit EUSF requests, and the Commission will process them under existing rules. No specific timeline for further action was given.
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