Only two weeks after the European Commission presented its proposal, MEPs adopted the Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) measures under the urgent procedure, with 562 votes to two and three abstentions.

Cohesion funds for refugees

The update to current cohesion policy rules will allow available funding to be reallocated quickly to help EU countries and their regions to provide emergency support (temporary accommodation, food and water supplies, medical care or education) to people fleeing from the Russian aggression in Ukraine. This could include 2014-2020 Cohesion policy funds that have not yet been allocated or spent, as well as an additional €10 billion from “REACT-EU” funds.

EU countries can apply to the EU to get back money they have spent to help Ukrainian refugees retroactively as of 24 February, the date on which Russia invaded Ukraine. The EU will be able to finance 100% (instead of the usual 85%) of cohesion funding spent by member states for one…