Strasbourg – At the plenary session of the European Parliament, MEPs voted to unlock aid worth €489 million to help the four countries recover following severe storms and flooding earlier this year. Malta and Italy requested help after storm Harry struck in January 2026; Portugal and Spain also did so after a series of storms caused severe flooding between January and February 2026.
The breakdown of the funding is as follows:
- Portugal: €261.5 million (€65.37 million advance already received);
- Spain: €149.1 million (€37.26 million advance already received);
- Italy: €74.9 million;
- Malta: €3.7 million (€931,014 advance already received).
The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) support helps finance emergency and recovery measures, such as restoring energy, water, wastewater, telecommunications and transport infrastructure, as well as to fund health and education services. The aid also covers clean-up operations, temporary accommodation and rescue services, and measures to secure preventive infrastructure and protect cultural heritage.
Plenary notes that actions currently financed under the Solidarity Fund should continue to be adequately financed under the next EU long-term budget (MFF), to respond to the intensification of natural disasters and provide tangible support for the member states and regions affected.
Since 2002, the EU Solidarity Fund has provided over €11 billion in aid in response to 150 disaster events, including 130 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies, across 25 member states (plus the UK) and six accession countries. The EUSF is part of the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve, a special instrument of the EU budget, and its mobilisation has to be approved by both the Parliament and the Council.
