The European Commission has approved advance payments totaling €103.6 million to Malta, Portugal, and Spain under the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), to ease the financial burden of reconstruction efforts after the damage caused by the devastating storms that took place in these countries in January and February 2026.
The advance payments follow the applications for EUSF support submitted by Malta, Portugal, and Spain and the positive technical assessment by the Commission confirming that the criteria for access to the Fund have been met.
Malta was struck between 19 and 21 January 2026 by Storm Harry. The storm caused widespread flooding, coastal damage and transport disruption, with significant impacts on public infrastructure, harbours, fisheries, aquaculture, agricultural assets and local communities. Malta will receive an advance payment of €931 014.
Portugal was affected between 22 January and 15 February 2026 by a sequence of exceptionally intense storms. The storms brought strong winds, coastal turmoil and intense rainfall which led to floods and landslides and resulted in 18 fatalities, significant material damage and interruptions in the supply of essential services. Portugal will receive an advance payment of €65.37 million.
Spain was hit between 22 January and 14 February 2026 by the same storms as Portugal. The result was prolonged electricity, water and telecommunications cut off affecting thousands of inhabitants. People also suffered significant material losses and many homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable. Spain will receive an advance payment of €37.26 million.
The Commission will make a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for the three applications. If approved, the final payments will follow later and depend on budgetary availabilities.
Since its establishment in 2002, the EU Solidarity Fund has provided over €11 billion in assistance for 148 disaster events, including 128 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies, across 25 member states and six accession countries.
More information is available online.
