Commission takes further steps to help Member States recover from climate disasters
Today, the European Commission is taking further steps to support Member States affected by unprecedented climate-related disasters.
As announced by European Commission President von der Leyen during her visit to Poland on 19 September 2024, the Commission is proposing amendments to three EU regulations to ensure that EU funds can be quickly mobilised in support of post-disaster recovery.
The amendments concern the Regulations governing the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF), and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), for the 2021-2027 programming period, as well as the Regulation of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) as part of the 2014-2022 framework.
These proposals come as a direct response to the floods affecting Central and Eastern European countries and wildfires in Portugal in September 2024. The proposals taken together could allow the seven concerned Mem
ber States (Poland, Romania, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Portugal, and Slovakia) to reprogramme around pound 18 billion (roughly pound 17.7 billion under the Cohesion Policy funds and pound 588 million under the EAFRD) to help in the context of climate-related disasters. These measures will ensure that the EU can flexibly support all Member States impacted by recent and potential future climate-related disasters.
European Commission President von der Leyen said: ‘When climate disasters hit, Europe is stronger when it stands together. I saw first-hand the effects of the floods in EU Member States in September and promised to introduce new flexibilities to support Member States to recover, repair, and reconstruct. Today’s proposals show that we are delivering on these promises: by injecting liquidity with higher pre-financing and co-financing of EU funds, we are making a real difference for the people and the regions that are harshly hit by these disasters. We are giving the Member States the tools to become mo
re resilient and better prepared for future crises.’
Injecting liquidity with increased pre- and co-financing under Cohesion Policy
Cohesion Policy funds already support Member States to prevent and recover from climate-related disasters. However, today’s proposals provide Member States with additional flexibility to use part of the Funds to repair damaged infrastructure and equipment, provide food and basic material assistance and social and healthcare support, and temporarily support the financing of short-time work schemes.
In addition, two new measures under the ERDF and ESF+ will be introduced. Firstly, an additional pre-financing of 30% will offer an immediate injection of liquidity to ease the budgetary pressure on affected Member States. Secondly, the EU will be able to finance up to 100% of the measures supported, with no national co-financing required to kick-start the reconstruction work.
A maximum of 10% of the existing Cohesion Policy funds earmarked for Member States for the 2021-2027 progra
mming period may be used to deliver on these objectives, allowing for transfers between Cohesion Policy funds.
Stronger Rural Development financing possibilities for farmers, forest holders and businesses
In addition, and thanks to the changes proposed today to the EU Rural Development Funds (EAFRD 2014-2022 legal framework), Member States will have more flexibility to support farmers, forest holders, and businesses affected by natural disasters.
The financial support offered by the EAFRD will be 100% covered by EU funds. The amendment will allow Member States to directly and swiftly provide emergency assistance to farmers, forest holders, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the form of lump sums. Moreover, Member States will benefit from more flexibility to introduce and reinforce measures to restore the production potential of affected farms and forests.
Next Steps
The proposal will now go through the ordinary legislative procedure in the European Parliament and the Council of the European
Union.
Once adopted and in line with the principle of shared management, interested Member States will have to decide on how best to make use of these flexibilities, how much funding to remobilise to deal with recent disasters, while taking into account their specific needs. Member States will then be required to submit programme amendments to the European Commission for review and adoption.
Background
Today’s proposal comes as a direct response to the devastating floods that hit Central and Eastern Europe caused by storm ‘Boris’ and the wildfires that ravaged Portugal in September 2024, and can cover natural disasters that have occurred since 1 January 2024.
The proposal is part of a wider EU response that offers Member States possibilities to receive support in the aftermath of climate disasters for both immediate crisis relief, through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, as well as for longer-term reconstruction and resilience building, through the European Union Solidarity Fund, the agricul
tural reserve, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, amongst others.
The possibility to use Cohesion Policy funds to help repair the damages caused by the floods was announced by Commission President von der Leyen during her visit to Poland on 19 September 2024.
Cohesion Policy is the largest EU funding source helping EU regions to prevent, prepare, and address the risks of climate-related disasters. For the 2021-2027 programming period, the Cohesion Policy funds (which includes the European Regional Development Fund (and Interreg programmes), Cohesion Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, and Just Transition Fund) already provide pound 14 billion in EU financing to support Member States in preventing and managing climate-related risks.
The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is another key EU instrument to support with post-disaster recovery. Since 2002, the EUSF assistance has been mobilised as a token of solidarity, offering support to EU Member States and countries negotiating their accession to t
he EU that are confronted with natural disasters and major public health emergencies. Given the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, the Commission obtained a reinforcement of the annual budget of the EUSF in the recent review of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The annual budget earmarked for the EUSF between 2024-2027 is now around pound 1.1 billion.
Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), Member States committed close to pound 9 billion in their recovery and resilience plans to finance measures related to natural disaster preparedness, including reforms and investments addressing adaptation and prevention of climate change-related risks, such as floods, fires, storms, and droughts.
In addition, the CAP Strategic Plans (2023-2027) support investments aimed at restoring agricultural or forestry potential following natural disasters, adverse climatic events, or catastrophic events. This includes measures that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, wit
h a budget of pound 93 billion from 2023 to 2027.
The CAP 2023-2027 also includes an agricultural reserve of at least pound 450 million per year, to help farmers cope with market disruptions or exceptional events affecting agricultural production or distribution. In recent years, the Reserve has been deployed on multiple occasions to directly support farmers impacted by exceptional adverse climatic events.
Today’s measures, combined with existing available resources, will ensure that Member States can rebuild using the ‘build back better’ approach i.e. to build more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive societies in the future.
For More Information
Proposal for amendment to Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 and Regulation (EU) 2021/1057
Proposal for amendment to Regulation (EU) 2020/2220
Regulation (EU) 2021/1058
Regulation (EU) 2021/1057
Regulation (EU) 2020/2220
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Cohesion Fund (CF)
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
2014 – 2022 (EAFRD).
European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF)
Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)
EU Civil Protection Mechanism (ECPM)
Quote(s)
When climate disasters hit, Europe is stronger when it stands together. I saw first-hand the effects of the floods in EU Member States in September and promised to introduce new flexibilities to support Member States to recover, repair, and reconstruct. Today’s proposals show that we are delivering on these promises: by injecting liquidity with higher pre-financing and co-financing of EU funds, we are making a real difference for the people and the regions that are harshly hit by these disasters. We are giving the Member States the tools to become more resilient and better prepared for future crises.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
We propose these changes to express solidarity and to concretely support people in rebuilding their lives after the devastating floods and wildfires. Member States will be able to use funding from the Europ
ean Social Fund Plus in a fast, flexible and targeted way, for instance to provide immediate food and basic material assistance to people directly affected by natural disasters, as well as to finance short-time work schemes.
Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
Climatic disasters are becoming more frequent and more extreme, and farmers are among the first ones impacted. The Commission has always stood by farmers’ side and by proposing new measures today to enlarge the scope of financial support, we are keeping true to our commitment. Protecting farmers’ means of living and their resilience will always be one of our key objectives.
Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture
Europe looked with sadness at the destruction caused by the floods in Central and Eastern Europe and the wildfires in Portugal. Cohesion Policy is already available to help Member States and regions to both prevent and recover from natural disasters. Given the increased frequency of extreme weather events, it
is necessary to create a framework that allows Member States, regions and people affected to act quicky, with more flexibility and full EU support. The proposed amendments, with options for higher pre-financing and 100% EU co-financing, will help Member States to repair and recover from these disasters, while safeguarding the long-term strategic nature of Cohesion Policy investments. I am convinced that when Europe acts in solidarity, Europe is at its best.
Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms
EU invests over pound 380 million in 133 new LIFE projects to support the green transition all around Europe
The Commission has granted today more than pound 380 million to 133 new projects across Europe under the LIFE Programme for environment and climate action. The allocated amount represents more than half of the pound 574 million total investment needs for these projects – the remainder coming from national, regional and local governments, public-private partnerships, businesses, and civil socie
ty organisations.
LIFE projects contribute to reaching the European Green Deal’s broad range of climate, energy and environmental goals, including the EU’s aim to become climate-neutral by 2050 and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, while ensuring Europe’s long-term prosperity. This investment will have a lasting impact on our environment, the economy and the well-being of all Europeans. The projects will cover all areas of the LIFE programme, mobilising:
pound 143 million (of which the EU will provide pound 74 million) to contribute to circular economy and improving quality of life, with 26 projects reducing water use, industrial and household waste, air and noise pollution, as well as making the business case for reducing, reusing and recycling;
close to pound 216 million (pound 144.5 million EU contribution) for nature and biodiversity projects to restore freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems, and habitats; and improve the conservation status of birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and
mammals;
some pound 110 million (nearly pound 62 million EU contribution) for climate resilience, climate mitigation and governance and information;
pound 105 million (pound 99 million EU contribution) for governance and market solutions to accelerate the clean energy transition.
Examples of projects supporting sustainability, innovation and quality of life
Among the 26 projects selected to promote a more circular economy and quality of life, the pound 7.5 million project LIFE GRAPhiREC aims at recycling graphite from battery waste in Italy. It is projected to generate pound 23.4 million in revenue and save pound 25 million in production costs. The Spanish project LIFE POLITEX will invest pound 5 million in reducing the environmental footprint of the fashion industry by converting textile waste back into new textiles. The pound 9.8 million DESALIFE project from the Canary Islands aims to support water resilience by producing fresh water from the Atlantic Ocean. Off-shore wave-powered buoys deployed off th
e Canary Islands will pump 1.7 billion litres of desalinated freshwater to shore.
25 projects will support nature and biodiversity in a wide range of areas. Two projects, LIFE4AquaticWarbler and LIFE AWOM, involve Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Lithuania, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, as well as Ukraine and Senegal, with a combined budget of nearly pound 24 million to save the rare aquatic warbler bird, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Another example is Biodiverse City LIFE, a pound 3.6 million project in Budapest to promote the ‘peaceful coexistence of nature and the urban lifestyle’.
IMAGE LIFE and LIFE VINOSHIELD are part of the 23 climate change resilience and mitigation projects announced today. With a combined budget of pound 6.8 million, the projects taking place in Spain, France and Italy will help world-renowned vineyards and the production of famous cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Camembert de Normandie, and Roquefort to become more resilient to the impact
of extreme weather events. The projects showcase responses on how best Europe’s wider agricultural industry can adapt to climate change and water scarcity. Equally important is the pound 6.9 million LIFE BLUE 420 kV GIS project, taking place in Belgium, led by Siemens to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electrical circuit breakers.
To ensure a clean energy transition, as part of the 59 new projects announced today, LIFE DiVirtue, a three-year, pound 1.25 million digital training scheme will build capacity for a more efficient and innovative building and construction industry sector. The project notably uses virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to help construction students and professionals deliver zero-emission buildings and renovations across Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Croatia and Romania. Meanwhile, with almost pound 10 million, the ENERCOM FACILITY project will provide direct grants to 140 emerging energy communities across Europe to trigger investments in sustainable energy. It will furt
her support energy communities in developing their business models through trainings and capacity building material, paving the way for replicable business models with long-term sustainability.
Background
Over its 32 years of existence, the LIFE Programme has co-financed more than 6,000 environmental and climate action projects across the EU and associated countries. The 133 projects announced today were selected from more than 653 applications submitted under the LIFE 2023 call for proposals.
The Commission has increased funding for the LIFE Programme by almost 60% for the 2021 – 2027 period, now standing at more than pound 5.43 billion. The grants financed under the LIFE Programme are managed by CINEA, the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
For More Information
Project summaries
LIFE Programme for environment and climate action
EU at COP16
Commission study shows how to help cancer patients and people with a history of cancer to stay in and return to work
The Commissio
n has published today a study mapping policies and good practices in the EU and EEA/EFTA that help cancer patients and those with a history of cancer to stay in and return to work. The study is one of the main outcomes of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, which aims to support cancer patients and survivors to stay in and return to work.
The study presents several recommendations to address remaining gaps, barriers and challenges, such as the need to broaden and strengthen national policies and rules to include more cancer-specific measures, to strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and to further increase awareness-raising. Key findings include the current lack of national legislative frameworks dedicated to job retention and/or reintegration, specifically for cancer patients and survivors in many countries. However, the study also found that many organisations have support measures in place and some countries have more general policies in place to support people with chronic diseases or disabilities.
The report’s findings follow a broad stakeholder consultation. It includes factsheets on the situation in each country and on the good practices identified.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “This study highlights the need to improve the quality of life of people whose lives have been affected by cancer, one of the key areas of action in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. It shows that, although we have made significant progress in cancer survival rates, many challenges remain in managing daily life with cancer. We need to break the stigma that can affect people affected by this disease and protect the right to return to work, to keep their jobs and to ensure that there is no discrimination. This is the start of the discussion: we will now analyse the results and encourage stakeholders to engage in discussions on how to turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.”
(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)
Commission joins forces with venture capital to support deep tech innovation in Europe
Today, the Commission will launch a Trusted Investors Network bringing together a group of investors ready to co-invest in innovative deep-tech companies in Europe together with the EU. The Union’s investment comes from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, which is part of the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe.
The first group comprises 71 investors from across Europe, including venture capital funds, public investment banks, foundations and corporate venture funds. These investors collectively represent over pound 90 billion of assets, which positions the network as a key initiative to mobilise capital for Europe’s deep tech sector.
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said:’With the launch of the Trusted Investors Network, we are making an important step forward in strengthening Europe’s innovation ecosystem and ensuring that our most promising com
panies have the capital and support they need to scale up. By joining forces with venture capital, we are responding to the urgent challenges laid out in the Draghi report that call for bold action to ensure Europe’s competitiveness in critical technologies.’
You will find more information shortly in our press release.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Roberta Verbanac – Tel.: +32 2 298 24 98)
EU to work towards implementation of Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP16 on biodiversity
Today marks the start of the COP16 Global Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia – the first major stocktaking opportunity since the historic agreement at COP15. During the conference, the EU will work towards agreements on key issues including biodiversity mainstreaming in other policies until 2030, capacity-building and evidence-based policy making, and strengthening synergies between climate action and biodiversity. The EU will also push for advancement on sharing the benefi
ts from genetic resources and mobilisation of resources for biodiversity. The recently submitted EU-specific Global Biodiversity Framework targets demonstrate the EU’s commitment to implement the framework domestically and to work with partners for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity globally.
The EU will host numerous side-events throughout COP16 at the EU Pavilion to showcase initiatives working towards ambitious GBF implementation and achieving ‘Peace with Nature’ in line with the Colombian Presidency’s objectives. You can follow the events live and find the programme here.
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefcovic, said: ‘The decisions that the international community will make at COP16 will be essential in shaping the future of our planet. Only global action can reverse the destabilisation of our climate and the dangerous degradation of our environment. The EU has ground-breaking policies to lead the way and inspire others. But we cannot turn the tide on our
own. We need to make tangible progress in Cali, to avoid crossing irreversible tipping points.’
You can find further information on the EU’s GBP implementation, EU financing for biodiversity globally, and on the role of nature-based solutions in a detailed news item.
(For more information: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel.: + 32 2 295 31 56; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)
Commissioner Johansson in Brazil to strengthen cooperation on the fight against organised crime and corruption
This week, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will be in Brazil, where she will attend the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial on Thursday.
Today, the Commissioner will visit the National Institute for Criminology and the Center for Cooperation of Migratory Control of the Federal Police in Brasilia and meet with the Director of the Liaison and Partnership Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Brazil.
Tomorrow, the Commissioner will meet with the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricard
o Lewandowski, the Minister of State, General Marcos António Amaro dos Santos, and the Secretary General of the Federal Police, Andrei Augusto Passos Rodrigues in Brasilia. They will exchange views on the fight against drug trafficking and trafficking in human beings, as well as the need for stronger cooperation with the European Drugs Agency, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC-N), Europol and Interpol. On Thursday 24 October, Commissioner Johansson will attend the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial in Natal. The Commissioner is expected to endorse the G20 Ministerial Declaration on anti-corruption, the G20 High-level Principles against private sector corruption, and the new G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan for 2025-2027.
Throughout the mandate, the Commission has reinforced EU cooperation with Latin America and Caribbean partners in the fight against organised crime, in the framework of the cooperation between the EU and CLASI the Latin American Committee on Internal Security. This partnership, p
romoting security and stability for citizens of both regions, is supported by the EL PAcCTO 2.0 programme, with a total of EUR 58.8 million from the EU budget.
(For more information: Anitta Hipper – Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Elettra Di Massa – Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61)
Commissioner Ivanova awards EU Cities Mission Label to 20 cities for their efforts towards climate neutrality
Tomorrow, Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, will present the EU Mission Label to the third group of cities that are part of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, at a ceremony in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The 20 cities that make up this new group are: Aachen, Mnster (Germany), Trikala (Greece), Miskolc (Hungary), Eilat (Israel), Bologna, Bergamo, Milan, Prato, Turin (Italy), Liepaja (Latvia), The Hague (Netherlands), Porto (Portugal), Bucharest, 2nd district, Suceava (Romania), Ljubljana, Kranj (Slovenia), and Gothenburg, Gävle and Umeå (Sweden).
These 20 citi
es will receive the label for their efforts towards climate neutrality. The label recognizes the successful development of their Climate City Contracts (CCCs), which outline the cities’ action and investment plans towards climate neutrality. Cities co-create their CCCs with local stakeholders, including the private sector and citizens.
The EU continues to support cities in their efforts to turn their ambitious plans into a series of projects. This label gives cities access to the Climate City Capital Hub, an international financial resource created in June 2024. The focus is on engaging with private capital. Cities can also benefit from a pound 2 billion loan package set up by the European Investment Bank. The Commission announced for the first time that this group of 20 cities would receive the label on 8 October.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: + 32 2 299 10 99; Roberta Verbanac – Tel.: + 32 2 298 24 98)
CALENDAR
Monday 21/10
Mr Margaritis Schinas in Hanoi, Vietnam (until 23/10): delivers
opening remarks at the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition 2024.
Tuesday 22/10
Mr Margaritis Schinas in Hanoi, Vietnam: delivers opening remarks at the Erasmus+ day; participates in the ceremonial signing with World Vision and Red Cross.
Friday 25/10
Ms Stella Kyriakides delivers a speech via videoconference at an event on the EU’s policies on child cancer organised by MEP Giorgos Georgiou; delivers a speech via videoconference to present Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan at the Breast Cancer Awareness event organised by Ms Evanthia Savva, Mayoress of Aradippou.
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Source: Cyprus News Agenc
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