On Tuesday European Parliament approved the disbursement of 101.5 euros from the Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for the disasters caused by hurricane daniel in Greece – and mainly in Thessaly – in September 2023. A relevant decision of the Council of Ministers was preceded on September 23. It disburses a total of more than one billion euros for the natural disasters that hit five European countries in 2023: Greece, Italy, Slovenia, France and Austria.

Slovenia receives the largest amount with 428.4 million euros. The amount of the Greek grant includes the 25.4 million euros of “advance payments” that had been approved from November 2023. The Parliament’s rapporteur for the disbursement of the financial aid was the MEP of the ND. George Autias. As he reports to Deutsche Welle, he is very pleased with the fact that his report was upvoted by 632 MEPs, but he is not satisfied with the amount of funds provided by the Fund to date.

“When I got my hands on what makes the Solidarity FundI went crazy. I said, ‘this is a poorhouse,'” says the Greek MEP. “He had given only 20 million for disasters of three billion euros in Greece. I say, it is not possible. We all pushed together and finally the amount rose to 100 million. The way of financing must change. To have a reserve, which is capable of making the payments at that time. Let’s finish quickly.”

Can the amounts be increased?

The Solidarity Fund was established in 2002 and to date has provided assistance in more than 130 cases, not only to member states, but also to countries “connected” to the EU. Eligible measures for funding are mainly the provision of first aid, the clean-up of areas affected by natural disasters and the first necessary repairs to damaged infrastructure. Until today, however, the Fund simply complements the actions and expenditures of national governments. In the case of Greece, obviously 101.5 million euros cannot solve all the problems, when the damages from the floods of 2023 are estimated at 2.3 billion euros.

That is why MEPs are now asking for a significant increase in the Fund’s resources. In theory, Ursula von der Leyen’s new Commission should submit a relevant proposal by July 2025, in view of the difficult negotiations for a new EU multiannual financial framework after 2027. “The Solidarity Fund cannot continue to be a poor house” he says George Autias. “In the case of Thessaly, the disaster happened in 2023 and the money will be given now. The money already had to be given to them two months after the disaster. And the funding must not be offset against other (previous) funding. That is, if he had given one billion to Bosnia and he says take some of it and I will give you the rest later, Bosnia will never take it…”.

Focusing on the economy

Consistent with his announcement to deal with economic policy as a member of the European Parliament, Giorgos Autias participates as a regular member in the Budget Committee of the European Parliament, the Budget Control Committee, and also the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Does he aspire in the future to oppose the orthodoxy of “strict fiscal discipline” that seems to prevail in today’s Europe?

“The first element is to control your budget, that is, not to go inside” says the Greek MEP. “Greece not only does not enter, but also has a surplus. So what do I say to Europe? Greece gives a lot of money for equipment, no other country gives it. We should find a way to get rid of these additional funds for equipment, so that it can breathe more. The third element: The South is being suffocated. But the South buys from the North. If the South stops buying cars, refrigerators, washing machines, etc. then the North will starve. So some balance is needed. Because the danger is neither from the North nor from the South. It’s from China.”