What is EU Solidarity Fund?

European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) provides financial support to EU member states and the candidate countries which are affected by the natural disasters or major health emergencies. EUSF budget is financed from the EU budget and the contributions of the EU member states. The support provided under this fund is a grant. EUSF is under the responsibility of European Commission Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO). Click here to read the EU Solidarity Fund Regulation. 

The application for the EU Solidarity Fund can be made by the beneficiary country within 12 weeks from the date the disaster occured first time. In cases where the effects of the disaster develop over time, such as drought or health emergencies, the application can be made within 12 weeks from the date of the first official response to the emergency. The fund must be used within 18 months from the date it was transferred to the account of beneficiary country and the implementation report must be completed within the following 6 months.

As the application is being evaluated, the destruction caused by the natural disaster must be above the thresholds determined for each country. Click here to view the thresholds in 2025 which created for countries and cities.

The EU Solidarity Fund may be used for the below areas in the event of devastation resulting from natural disasters:

-    restoring the working order of infrastructure and plant in the fields of energy, water and waste water, telecommunications, transport, health and education;
-    providing temporary accommodation and funding rescue services to meet the needs of the population concerned;
-    securing preventive infrastructure and measures of protection of cultural heritage;
-    cleaning up disaster-stricken areas, including natural zones, in line with, where appropriate, eco-system based approaches, as well as immediate restoration of affected natural zones to avoid immediate effects from soil erosion.

More information can be found at Commission’s related page. Click here to read.