10/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2024 04:42
On Tuesday, MEPs approved over €1 billion in EU Solidarity Fund aid to support recovery efforts in five EU countries due to severe floods that occurred in 2023.
The €1,028,541,689 in aid from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) will be distributed as follows:
The EUSF assistance will cover part of the costs of emergency and recovery operations, including repairing damaged infrastructure, safeguarding cultural heritage, and conducting clean-up operations.
MEPs express their "deepest solidarity with all the victims, their families and all the individuals affected by the destructive floods in Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France as well as with the national, regional and local authorities involved in the relief efforts". They point to the "increasing number of severe and destructive natural disasters in Europe" and consider that the "budget of the EUSF or its equivalent should be expanded in view of the upcoming Commission proposal on the new Multiannual Financial Framework".
The aid package was approved by 632 votes in favour, 7 votes against and 3 abstentions.
More information can be found here (Commission proposal) and in the EP report by rapporteur Georgios Aftias (EPP, Greece). Watch the rapporteur's plenary speech following this link.
Background
Since its inception in 2002, the EUSF has mobilised over €8.6 billion for 130 disasters (110 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies) in 24 member states (plus the UK), and four accession countries (Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Türkiye).