European Court of Auditors has presented an information note with the title "Information note of the European Court of Auditors concerning Special Report No 3/2008 on "The European Union Solidarity Fund: how rapid, efficient and flexible is it?". The audit of the EUSF examined whether the Fund had achieved these aims and whether recipient states were satisfied with the Fund.

The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was set up in 2002 in response to the serious floods in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and France. The Fund was intended to demonstrate solidarity with member states suffering as a result of natural disasters. Up to the end of 2006 it had provided aid of over one billion euros in respect of 23 disasters.

The Council wanted the EUSF to be rapid, efficient and flexible in providing assistance. The audit of the EUSF examined whether the Fund had achieved these aims and whether recipient states were satisfied with the Fund. The special report from the The European Union Solidarity Fund: "how rapid, efficient and flexible is it?" mainly focused on:

Rapidity

The Court found that the Fund did not provide a rapid response. The time taken between the application and the payment was usually about one year.

Efficiency

The Court found that the direct costs associated with managing the Fund by the Commission were low and so the Fund was considered to be working efficiently. The Court reviewed the procedures that the beneficiary states are required to comply with in respect of tendering, contracting, implementing, reporting and auditing the grant. The Court concluded that administrative procedures have been reduced to a level which ensures that the procedures are efficient for beneficiary states

Flexibility

As regards flexibility, the Court found no cases where the Fund showed a lack of flexibility in its treatment of applications for aid.

Despite the protracted process involved in obtaining aid from the Fund, states that received money were satisfied or very satisified with the Fund. The Fund has therefore, in respect of the states that received aid, met its underlying objective of demonstrating solidaritywith member states in times of disaster.

The Court has recommended that the Commission provide detailed guidance to applicants and advice on how to achieve the prompt submission of applications.