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European Social Fund Plus
News2025-01-20

Commission welcomes adoption of RESTORE proposal helping Member States recover from climate-related disasters

A photo of the damage in Mayotte after cyclone Chido

The Commission welcomes the adoption of the RESTORE proposal (Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction). 

RESTORE allows Member States affected by climate-related disasters to:

  • repair damaged infrastructure and equipment,
  • provide food and basic material assistance,
  • temporarily support healthcare measures and the financing of short-time work schemes. 

To facilitate swift and effective responses, up to 10% of the ERDF and ESF+ existing Cohesion Policy funds earmarked for Member States for the 2021–2027 programming period may be redirected to deliver on these objectives, allowing for transfers between Cohesion Policy funds.

A pre-financing of 25% will help Member States accelerate support to those affected. Member States can also benefit from a 95% co-financing rate for measures helping Member States recover from climate-related disasters.

RESTORE can complement other instruments, such as the European Solidarity Fund. For instance, France could use this new mechanism to address the devastating aftermath of cyclone Chido, which severely impacted Mayotte.

The amendments concern the Regulations governing the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF), and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), for the 2021-2027 programming period, as well as the Regulation of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) as part of the 2014–2022 framework.

The RESTORE amendment entered into force on 24 December 2024. This opened the possibility for Member States to formally submit their proposals to the European Commission. 

The Commission had put forward its proposal in October 2024.