Joint answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the Commission
Written questions :E-001696/14 , P-001687/14

1. Disaster recovery and rehabilitation actions could be eligible for co-financing from the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds during the 2014-2020 period. In line with the applicable EU rules, the priorities for such co-financing need to be confirmed by the Croatian risk assessment of natural and man-made disasters. The Croation authorities are expected to finalise this risk assessment by end-2015. This means that, in practice, ESI co-financing in this field could only be provided after 2015.

2. Whether the EU Solidarity Fund could intervene to help make good the damage of the disaster can only be assessed on the basis of an application to be submitted by the Croatian authorities within 10 weeks of the occurrence of the first damage. The Croatian authorities have announced that they are considering submitting such an application. The Commission is in contact with the Croatian authorities and is providing guidance and advice for the preparation of the application.

3. The sources of funding are mentioned in replies 1 and 2.

4. The ESI Funds could support building dykes and drainage systems. This requires having in place the strategy referred to in the answer to question 1. If Croatia intends to invest ahead of the finalisation of the strategy, the priorities for investments, their expected outcomes and indicators should be well defined in the programme and justified on the basis of risk analysis of floods in order to be considered eligible for EU funding later on.