MEPs support EU aid worth €280 million for flood-stricken countries

• Austria, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will get help after severe floods in 2024
• Assistance will be used for infrastructure repair, temporary accommodation, protecting cultural heritage sites, and clean-up
• The EU should continue to address climate change adaptation and mitigation

Parliament adopted a proposal to unlock €280 million of EU Solidarity Fund money to assist countries affected by devastating floods in 2024.

On Wednesday, MEPs with 643 votes in favour, 13 against, and 35 abstentions endorsed a Commission proposal to provide financial help to Austria, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to deal with the consequences of severe flooding in September and October 2024.

The € 280,740,903 in aid from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) will be distributed as follows:

• Austria: €42.8 million
• Czechia: €114 million
• Poland: €76 million
• Slovakia: €2.1 million
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: €45.7 million
• Moldova: €195,200

The funds will support a wide range of recovery measures, including infrastructure repair, temporary accommodation, improvements to preventive infrastructure, protecting cultural heritage sites, and clean-up operations.

MEPs expressed their deepest solidarity with the victims, their families, and all the individuals affected by the destructive floods. They also said the Commission should substantially expand the EUSF budget or its equivalent in its upcoming proposal on the new EU long-term budget (MFF). MEPs also added that the EU should continue to address climate change adaptation and mitigation by supporting European and national policies to prevent natural disasters.

Quote

"Parliament takes another positive step in supporting citizens in need. Following today's vote, extra funds will aid the victims of last year's tragic floods in Austria, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Moldova, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This was made possible by last year's decision to give more money to the European Solidarity Fund. Now it can help repair infrastructure, provide shelter, and improve preventive actions. As natural disasters grow more frequent and severe, the EU must be able to provide swift and effective financial aid," Andrzej Halicki (EPP, PL), Parliament's rapporteur, said.

Background

The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), the EU's main post-disaster relief instrument, since its launch in 2002, has provided over €9.6 billion to help respond to 136 major crises - including 116 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies - across 24 EU countries (as well as the UK) and four candidate countries.

• Eszter ZALAN

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