Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Council approves €1028.54 million in disaster relief support for Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France.
The European Council agreed to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to deliver assistance to Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece, and France, connecting to six natural disasters that happened in 2023. The assistance will come from the EU’s 2024 funding. The European Union Solidarity Fund will be mustered for a total amount of €1028.54 million in commitment and payment grants, including the amount of €231.78 million as advance payments.
How will EU disaster relief funds be distributed?
€446.64 million to deliver assistance to Italy further to floods pushed by extremely intense rainfall in the Emilia-Romagna area in May 2023 (€378.83 million), including the amount of €94.71 million as advance payment, and the Tuscany territory in October and November 2023 (€67.81 million)
€428.41 million to deliver assistance to Slovenia further to floods induced by heavy rainfall across the country in August 2023, including the amount of €100 million as advance payment
€5.20 million to deliver assistance to Austria further to floods driven by heavy rainfall in its southern regions in August 2023
How will Greece benefit from EU storm relief aid?
€101.53 million to provide aid to Greece further to floods caused by the Mediterranean storm “Daniel” in multiple places in central Greece, particularly in the Thessaly region, in September 2023, including the amount of €25.38 million as advance payment. €46.76 million to provide aid to France further to floods caused by heavy rainfall in the former. Nord-Pas-de-Calais area in November 2023, including the amount of €11.69 million as advance payment
What are the next steps for EU disaster fund disbursement?
In the next steps in practice, once the determination has entered into force, the EU will transfer money from the solidarity and emergency aid reserve in its 2024 budget to the so-called EU Solidarity Fund operational budget line, from where it can be paid to the governments that have applied for financial grant from this fund after being struck by natural disasters. The EU Solidarity Fund is developed to provide financial assistance in the event of a significant disaster in a member state or a country holding accession negotiations with the EU.
