A report published by the European Commission on 30 June 2026 details the 2023 activity of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), which faced record demand with five new applications and total payments exceeding EUR 1.3 billion. The fund provided advance payments totalling around EUR 220 million to Italy, Slovenia and Greece within weeks of their applications, and paid EUR 400 million to Türkiye — the highest ever for an accession country — following a Delegation Agreement signed in February 2024.
The report, submitted to the European Parliament and the Council under COM(2026)317, covers applications received in 2023 from Greece (floods), Italy (Emilia-Romagna floods), Austria (floods), Slovenia (floods) and Türkiye (earthquake). Four were classified as 'major natural disasters'; Austria's was a 'neighbouring country natural disaster' linked to Slovenia's floods. The EUSF's annual budget of EUR 662.45 million was strained by the volume of claims, prompting the Commission in June 2023 to propose increasing the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) ceiling by EUR 2.5 billion (2023 prices) for the remaining four years of the 2021-27 Multiannual Financial Framework.
Italy received a balance of EUR 284,125,155 (total EUR 378,833,540); Slovenia EUR 328,405,059 (total EUR 428,405,059); Austria EUR 5,199,245; and Greece EUR 76,146,712 (total EUR 101,528,949). The Commission also closed two older cases: Hungary's COVID-19 application (EUR 39,723,926, closed October 2023) and Italy's 2019 severe weather claim (EUR 211,707,982, closed December 2023).
The report underscores the growing pressure on the EUSF as climate-related disasters increase. The proposed SEAR increase, if adopted by the Council and Parliament, would provide additional headroom for future emergencies. Stakeholder impact is significant: EU taxpayers face potential higher contributions to the EU budget, while disaster-affected member states and accession countries benefit from faster and larger solidarity payments. The fund's ability to respond quickly — with advances paid within weeks — is a key advantage, but its limited size may require further reforms to meet rising demand.