MEPs Say Malta Faces Hurdles Accessing EU Disaster Aid After Storm Harry

Maltese Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)have criticised the rules of the European Solidarity Fund, arguing that current eligibility conditions make it hard for Malta to secure financial support in…

Maltese Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)have criticised the rules of the European Solidarity Fund, arguing that current eligibility conditions make it hard for Malta to secure financial support in the aftermath of Storm Harry.

During a plenary debate in the European Parliament on how the EU responds to natural disasters, MEPs David Casa and Alex Agius Saliba urged changes to the fund’s criteria so smaller member states can qualify more easily.

The European Solidarity Fund is designed to help countries recover from major disasters. However, to access the aid, a member state must demonstrate damage amounting to at least 0.6 % of its Gross National Income (GNI). For disasters affecting only part of a country, damage must exceed 1.5 % of regional GDP, or 1 % in the case of outermost regions- thresholds that Casa and Agius Saliba say disadvantage smaller nations like Malta.

Casa appealed for a broader interpretation of these rules, saying the current standards unfairly penalise small states and do not reflect the increasing frequency of extreme weather. He called for more funding, simpler procedures, lower thresholds and special measures for isolated countries.

When questioned by Spanish S&D MEP Cristina Maestre about his stance on climate change, Casa replied that his political group, the EPP, supports climate action provided it does not harm people in the process.

Agius Saliba emphasised that Malta should be treated the same as any other EU country in receiving disaster relief. He criticised the fund’s design, saying it effectively makes it “impossible” for smaller states to apply. He pointed to Sicily- hit by the same storm- receiving support, while Malta, which cannot be classified as a “region,” is excluded, calling this “discrimination.”

Beyond reforming the Solidarity Fund, Agius Saliba also called for increased investment in areas like Marsascala, Marsalforn and Għar Lapsi, which are struggling with climate-related damage and need stronger infrastructure.

Immediately after Storm Harry, Agius Saliba wrote to the European Commission seeking aid for Maltese residents affected by the damage. He expressed confidence that a complete damage assessment would meet eligibility requirements.

PN MP Peter Agius, a member of the agriculture and rural development committee, offered support to the government in tapping into European funds and suggested extending the fund’s interpretation to cover some private property losses.

The Maltese government now has 12 weeks to submit a detailed estimate of the storm-related damage. Meanwhile, it has launched a national support scheme for private property losses not covered by insurance, reimbursing up to 60 % of costs, capped at €20,000.

Businesses with damaged illegal structures can only receive full government compensation if they regularise these with the Planning Authority within one year.

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