The EU Solidarity Fund provides emergency financial assistance to member states affected by a serious natural disaster – floods, an earthquake, extensive fires or storms – or another exceptional situation defined by the fund's rules. It finances the restoration of basic infrastructure, temporary accommodation, emergency services, protection of cultural heritage and clean-up work, but not private damage, which is meant to be covered by insurance. A member state applies for assistance within a set deadline from the occurrence of the damage and must demonstrate that its extent exceeds a defined threshold. Funds are then distributed at national level. For municipalities, this creates a practical obligation – to document damage promptly and thoroughly, because without supporting evidence a claim cannot be made. Photographic documentation, committee records and expert assessments prepared immediately after the event are later the only usable evidence.
See also: Force majeure in a project, Insurance of project assets, Cross-financing.
