European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday that the European Union (EU) will mobilise 10 billion euros in cohesion funds for Central and Eastern European countries affected by the floods.
“We are living in extraordinary times and extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. At first glance, we believe that it is possible to mobilise 10 billion euros in cohesion funds for the affected countries and that this is an emergency response,” said the head of the EU executive at a press conference in the western city of Wroclaw, one of the worst hit by the floods in Poland.
Speaking to the prime ministers of the countries most affected by the floods in Central Europe (Donald Tusk of Poland, Peter Fiala of the Czech Republic, Robert Fico of Slovakia and Karl Nehammer, Chancellor of Austria), the official added that “Unusual” redistribution of EU cohesion fundssince “maximum flexibility and speed” will be guaranteed in sending these funds to the countries.
The idea is that “they can be used in a very flexible way for what [os países] need […] and where the damage is most serious”, in “100% European money“, that is, without contributions from the Member States, said Ursula von der Leyen.
The official also mentioned that, subsequently, the Solidarity Fund can be used “to rebuild infrastructuresuch as roads, highways, railways and bridges, for example.”
Storm Boris, which is affecting countries in Central and Eastern Europe, has already caused Death of at least 21 people: seven in Romania, seven in Poland, four in Austria and three in the Czech Republic.
The storm has brought heavy rains and abnormally high river levels, prompting authorities to install temporary infrastructure to combat flooding on the banks.
Even so, floods have been breaking dams and dikes, leaving streets covered in piles of debris and mud, isolating towns, causing evacuations and cutting off communications.
The European Union has expressed its solidarity with the countries affected by the floods, which it described as devastating, and announced its willingness to help.
The comments come on the day that Von der Leyen announced EU support of 160 million euros to support winter preparations in Ukraine, in shelters and repair works, also announcing that she will travel to kyiv on Friday.
Source: Observadora
