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Eu solidarity fund
The European Union Solidarity Fund was established in 2002. It’s purpose is to assure a rapid, efficient and flexible response to emergency situations following major natural disasters. It intervenes mainly in natural disasters which have serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the economy in one or more regions.
Assistance from the Fund takes the form of a single and global grant, with no co-financing required, in addition to the public efforts of the beneficiary State. The EUSF has a maximum annual budget of 500 million euros plus the unspent allocation from the preceding year.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the urgency to address the associated public health crisis, the scope of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) has been extended to encompass major public health emergencies. EUSF can be mobilized at the request of a EU country or a country which has begun accession negotiations with the Union. Expenditure is estimated at 0,3% of Country’s Gross National Income.
The fund covers the costs for:
- Medical assistance, including medicines, equipment and medical devices, costs of healthcare or civil protection infrastructure
- Laboratory analyses
- Extraordinary measures and extra costs in health and medical care associated with the COVID-19 virus
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Special assistance to the population, especially to vulnerable groups (elderly, people with health problems, pregnant women, single working parents….)
- Special support to keep medical and other emergency services personnel operational
- Development of vaccines or medicines
- Strengthening preparedness planning capacity and related communication
- Improving risk assessment and management
- Sanitation of buildings and facilities
- Health checks, including at the borders