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(1) The European Union Solidarity Fund (‘the Fund’) aims to enable the Union to respond in a rapid, efficient and flexible manner to emergency situations in order to show solidarity with the population of regions struck by major or regional natural disasters or major public health emergency.

(2) The Fund is not to exceed the ceilings as laid down in Article 9 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 . In accordance with Article 9(2) and 9(4) of that Regulation, the maximum amount that can be mobilised by the Fund from the 2021 allocation until 1 September 2021 is EUR 477 543 750. In accordance with Article 4a(4) of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, the amount of EUR 50 000 000 has already been inscribed in the general budget for the financial year 2021 (in commitments and payments) for the payment of advances. In addition, an amount of EUR 47 981 598 of the 2020 allocation was not used until the end of that year and is carried over to 2021. Therefore, the maximum amount available under the EUSF at this point in 2021 is EUR 525 525 348, which is enough to cover the needs under this Decision.

(3) On 29 October 2020, Greece submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following the floods in August 2020 in Sterea Ellada.

(4) On 9 December 2020, Greece submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following the damages caused by the cyclone Ianos in September 2020 that affected the Regions of Ionia Nisia, Sterea Ellada, Ditiki Ellada, Thessalia and Peloponnisos.

(5) On 22 January 2021, Greece submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following the earthquake in October 2020 that affected the islands of Samos, Ikaria and Chios.

(6) On 21 December 2020, France submitted an application to mobilise the Fund, following the damages caused by Storm Alex in Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur region in October 2020.

(7) By 24 June 2020, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Spain submitted applications to mobilise the Fund in relation to the major public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

(8) The applications by those States meet the conditions for providing a financial contribution from the Fund, as laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002.

(9) The Fund should therefore be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution to Greece and France in relation to the natural disasters and to Albania, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain in relation to the major public health emergency.

(10) In the case of Croatia, since the advance already paid exceeds the final aid amount, no further amount needs to be mobilised and the unduly paid advance will be recovered in accordance with Article 4a of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002.

(11) In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the Fund, this Decision should apply from the date of its adoption,