Finance requests EU Solidarity Fund assistance from the European Commission to address storm damage in Andalusia and Extremadura

On 17 April 2026, the Ministry of Finance submitted a formal request for assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to mitigate the damage caused by the successive storms that occurred between late January and early February of this year, affecting the Iberian Peninsula, primarily Andalusia and Extremadura.

The Solidarity Fund is the Union's main instrument to support the recovery from natural disasters and is an expression of solidarity between Member States.

In early February 2026, just days after the storms passed, the then First Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Finance, María Jesús Montero, announced that the government would request funding from this fund.

The fund's regulations stipulate that member states may access it in the event of a "serious" disaster, defined as one in which the damage caused by the disaster exceeds 0.6% of Gross National Income or €3 billion (2011 prices). The documentation submitted by the Ministry of Finance shows that Spain fulfils this condition.

The fund finances a portion of certain emergency expenses and interventions already carried out in response to disasters such as the series of storms that occurred. Expenditure eligible for funding from the European Fund includes, among others, expenditure on:

• Restoration of basic infrastructures such as energy, water, health and education.
• Temporary accommodation for the affected population and costs of emergency services to cover immediate needs.
• Security of prevention infrastructures.
• Measures to protect cultural heritage.
• Cleaning operations.

Once all the information has been submitted, a process begins in which the European Commission analyses and evaluates the documentation and finally allocates the amount of aid corresponding to Spain. The grant must subsequently be approved by the Council and the Parliament of the European Union. Once the appropriations become available, the Commission signs an agreement with the beneficiary State and provides the aid. This whole process is relatively lengthy and can take several months.

The application details that the cost of eligible expenses amounts to €1.801 billion. The amount allocated to Spain will necessarily be less than the reported eligible expenses, which exceed the total budget allocated to the European Union's Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve.

The recorded events

Between 22 January and 14 February 2026, Spain was affected by an exceptional sequence of seven high-impact Atlantic storms (Ingrid, Joseph, Kristin, Leonardo, Marta, Nils, and Oriana), which generated a prolonged period of adverse weather conditions across large areas of the country. The impact was greatest in parts of Andalusia and Extremadura, as accumulated rainfall in the southern Iberian Peninsula tripled the climatological reference values (1991-2020).

The most critical episode occurred between 3 and 7 February 2026, associated with Storm Leonardo, with extraordinary rainfall linked to a subtropical atmospheric river. Extreme rainfall totals were recorded, such as the 577 mm in 24 hours in Grazalema (Cádiz), a historical record that caused extraordinary flooding.

According to the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), analysing the accumulated rainfall over a 31-day period, this episode ranks as the second highest value of the 21st century for peninsular Spain, and among the most significant since records began (1961).

In Andalusia and Extremadura, the impact has been severe and widespread, with thousands of people affected, serious economic damage in key sectors, and significant environmental disruptions.

Thus, the human and material impact of these persistent and intense rains associated with the storms has been severe:

• Population: More than 12,400 people evacuated and numerous disruptions to basic utilities. Homes destroyed or uninhabitable, including in some cases total or partial collapses.
• Infrastructure and public services: Damage to the transport network, with 150 roads affected; suspension of rail traffic on key lines; and serious damage to schools and healthcare centres, public buildings, sports and municipal facilities, and ports. Need for controlled releases of water from reservoirs to preserve the safety of infrastructure.
• Economy: Massive impact on agricultural and livestock operations, as well as the isolation of industrial parks and local businesses.
• Cultural and Natural Heritage: Damage to assets of high historical value such as castles and convents. Regarding the environmental impact, the natural environment has experienced significant deterioration due to extreme rainfall and flooding.

Overall, the population found themselves cut off, suffered significant material losses, and forced displacement, requiring emergency services, temporary shelters, and ongoing support. The economic damage was widespread and multidimensional, affecting both public and private sectors.

In response to this situation, the central government approved Royal Decree-Law 5/2026, of 17 February, which adopted urgent measures to address the damage caused by various adverse weather events, particularly affecting Andalusia and Extremadura. This legislation has enabled, among other measures, the activation of a direct aid package to mitigate personal injuries, damage to homes and belongings, the economic reactivation of the self-employed and SMEs, tax relief measures, and financial support for local authorities for reconstruction projects.

Origin of the Solidarity Fund

The EUSF was created in response to the devastating floods that hit Central Europe in the summer of 2002. Since then, it has shown itself to be a tool capable of responding to major natural and public health disasters and reflecting European solidarity.

In Spain, the Solidarity Fund was first activated in November 2003 in response to the Prestige oil spill crisis, and funds have been received eight times since then. These disasters include the 2011 Lorca earthquake, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma, and the 2024 DANA storm.

Spain has recently benefited from this mechanism, notably receiving €946 million last year to mitigate the effects of the 2024 DANA storm, the second-largest amount ever granted by the Fund.

With this new request, the Government reaffirms its commitment to using all available European tools to accelerate the recovery of the affected areas. Thus, it has combined the mobilisation of national resources with the activation of European solidarity mechanisms for the reconstruction of major infrastructure and public services.

Non official translation