During the operationalisation of the Annual Solidarity Pool contributing Member States should have the possibility, upon the request of a benefitting Member State, to provide alternative solidarity contributions. Alternative solidarity contributions should have practical and operational value. Where the Commission, following the consultation with the Member State concerned, considers that such measures as indicated by the Member State concerned are needed, such contributions should be identified in the Commission proposal for a Council implementing act establishing the Annual Solidarity Pool. Contributing Member States should be allowed to pledge such contributions, even if they are not identified in the Commission proposal for a Council implementing act establishing the Annual Solidarity Pool, and they should be counted as financial solidarity and their financial value should be assessed and applied in a realistic manner. Where those contributions are not requested by the benefitting Member State in a given year, they should be converted into financial contributions, at the end of the year.