Six (6) changes concerning compensations from European Solidarity Fund for natural disasters and the approval of a total of 100.1 million euros from the (Solidarity) Fund, Greece succeeded, following a proposal by the ND MEP and the EPP, Giorgos Avtiasbut also relevant consultations in the European Parliament, which preceded it, as stated in a relevant announcement.

As it is noted, “in a clear way, the Greek MEP, who assumed the role of general rapporteur of the Budget Committee, requested and obtained more funds for Greece, with immediate return of the compensations from the European Solidarity Fund”. In the same announcement, it is underlined that “the most important thing is that other funding should not be offset with these grants”.

Specifically, the “decisive changes proposed by the Greek MEP and accepted” during today’s meeting of the EP Budget Committee are:

1. The Fund’s budget should be expanded to cover the essential needs of the affected countries.

2. To increase the Solidarity and Emergency Aid reserve.

3. The funding from the Fund should not be at the expense of the European funding received by the member states, in the context of other EU policies.

4. The financial aid of the Fund should not be offset against other aid.

5. The compensations should be immediate and the time to release the advances should be reduced.

6. Funding to reach the affected areas quickly and on time.

Finally, Mr. Autias pointed out to his European colleagues that “the adoption of the Greek positions vindicates those who request a new basis for the financing of the Solidarity Fund for disasters, which directly threaten the economic stability of European countries”.

With the announcement, the electronic link is shared, where a video has been posted of the proposal of the MEP of the ND and EKL, Giorgos Autias, to the Budget Committee of the EP (https://youtu.be/D9YYczqSe34).