The victims of COVID 19 in the EU member states were affected in various ways by the EUSF. They were vulnerable to corruption, fraud and irregularities. These cases emphasize the need for an effective control system and complaint procedures. It also highlights the importance of ensuring that public procurement procedures are well followed in response to the COVID 19 crisis. Any derogations should ensure the compliance of procurement procedures by having sound financial management and protection of the economic interests of the union both at regional and local levels.
The victims are also affected by the activation of the EUSF triggered by a disaster. Such events include fund distribution which doesn’t correspond to territorial quotas. The findings of evolution show that the allocations are only concentrated in a small number of recipients or victims. 77% of the funds distributed to the four-member states that are the largest emphasize the need-based solidarity, considering the capacity of the victims’ country to face a disaster.
Victims of COVID 19 are also affected because designated authorities implement the EUSF in the recipient countries. Therefore, the Commission’sCommission’s powers influence which projects get funding and which ones don’t receive. The CommissionCommission of parliament’s resolution made on 1st December 2016 stressed the importance of determining whether EUSF subsidies have been used according to the principles of sound financial management. It also called on the Commission and the Member States to improve transparency and guarantee public access to information through the mobilization process. It calls on the CommissionCommission to pay close attention to cases of potential misuse of EUSF under management diversely shared. That is done to introduce steps to improve transparency and prevent possible abuse.
Victims were also affected by the delayed audit of the EUSF. National authorities needed more time to provide answers to some audit questions. Others failed to respond to repeated queries. The delayed response and failure to answer some audit questions affected the victims by the inability to get adequate funding to curb the effects of COVID 19.