EU Proposes Over $1.12 Billion in Flood Relief for 5 Countries

The European Commission has put forward a proposal to provide more than $1.12 billion (€1 billion) in financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to aid Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece, and France in recovering from the devastating floods that struck these nations in 2023.

The proposed aid package includes $422.2 million (€378.8 million) for Italy, specifically to address the flood damage in Emilia-Romagna from May 2023, along with an additional $75.6 million (€67.8 million) for the Tuscany region, which was hit by floods in October and November 2023. Slovenia is set to receive $477.8 (€428.4 million), while Austria is allocated $5.8 million (€5.2 million), both for dealing with the consequences of the August 2023 floods. Greece is earmarked to receive $113.2 million (€101.5 million) to assist with recovery efforts following the September 2023 floods, and France will be provided with approximately $52.1 million (€46.7 million) to address the damages in the Hauts-de-France region from the November 2023 floods.

The EUSF aid will cover a portion of the expenses related to emergency and recovery efforts, including infrastructure repairs, the preservation of cultural heritage, and clean-up operations.

EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira emphasized that the EUSF is specifically designed to support member states in recovering from major natural disasters. She noted that the fund not only offers immediate relief and assistance for emergency costs but also contributes to rebuilding efforts, particularly in light of the growing challenges posed by climate change.

This funding proposal was made in response to requests from the affected countries. Once it gains approval from the European Parliament and the Council, the financial aid will be quickly disbursed in a single installment to each requesting country.

Since its establishment in 2002, the EUSF has mobilized over $9.6 billion (€8.6 billion) to address 130 disasters—including natural disasters and health emergencies—across 24 member states and four accession countries (Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey).

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