Strasbourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – MEPs approved aid package for flood recovery in Germany and Italy, highlighting increasing natural disasters.
MEPs endorsed over €116 million in EU Solidarity Fund assistance to support recovery measures in two EU countries relating to floods in 2024. The aid package was supported by 660 votes in favour, 11 votes against and 4 abstentions. A total of €116,031,553 in aid from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) will be allocated as follows: Germany, for floods in May 2024 in the southern part of the nation: €112.1 million; Italy, for floods in June 2024 in Valle d‘Aosta: €4 million.
According to the approved aid package, the EUSF assistance will surround part of the costs of emergency and recovery procedures, including repairing damaged infrastructure, protecting cultural heritage, and conducting clean-up operations.
Why do MEPs call for an expanded budget for disaster relief?
Moreover, MEPs voiced their “deepest solidarity with all the victims, their families and all the individuals impacted by the destructive floods in Germany and Italy as well as with the national, regional and local authorities engaged in the relief efforts”. They pointed to the “increasing number of severe, dangerous and deadly natural disasters in Europe” and believe the “budget of the EUSF or its equivalent should be greatly expanded given the upcoming Commission proposal on the new Multiannual Financial Framework”.
