Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, in a written answer on 2 July 2026, confirmed that Italy has applied for support from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) following floods in Crosia and other parts of Calabria, while emphasising that the Commission monitors the effective use of EU funds for hydrogeological risk prevention in the region. The answer, responding to a question from Left MEP Pasquale Tridico, outlines the available EU mechanisms but contains no new concrete proposals or numerical targets, instead reaffirming existing procedures and ongoing assessments.
Fitto stated that Italy submitted an EUSF application on 10 April 2026 for damages caused by storm Harry in Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia in January 2026, and that the Commission's assessment is ongoing. He noted that the EUSF can only be activated by Italy within 12 weeks of the first damage from the March 2026 floods, provided total direct damage exceeds the thresholds in Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002. The fund may cover part of emergency and recovery costs incurred by public authorities, such as restoring essential infrastructure and providing temporary accommodation.
On the effectiveness of EU funds, Fitto pointed to the Calabrian Regional Programme under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which includes interventions worth EUR 90,834,314 aimed at enhancing coastal resilience, infrastructure, monitoring, and civil protection capacity. He stressed that the fund operates under shared management: the Commission monitors progress according to the Common Provisions Regulation, while the managing authority ensures effective use of the funds. The Commission stands ready to provide advisory assistance to the managing authority if requested.
Regarding monitoring and coordination, Fitto highlighted that the Commission is reinforcing the EU framework through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS), which provide tools such as on-demand mapping and the European Flood Awareness System to support prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. These services are used by national civil protection authorities, the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre, and local and regional authorities.
The answer reflects a policy orientation of maintaining existing EU solidarity and monitoring frameworks rather than introducing new instruments. Institutional follow-up will depend on Italy's EUSF application assessment and the ongoing implementation of the Calabrian Regional Programme, with no specific timeline given for further action.