European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday 19 September in Wroclaw (Poland) that €10 billion in aid from the European Union Cohesion Fund would be provided to Central European countries affected by the floods.
Since last week, strong winds, exceptionally heavy rain and flooding have caused twenty-four deaths in the region (five people in Austria, seven in Poland, seven in Romania and five in the Czech Republic).
“At first glance, it is possible to mobilise 10 billion euros from the Cohesion Fund for the affected countries. This is an emergency response”said m.me von der Leyen after a meeting with the heads of government of Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia.
“It was heartbreaking for me to see the destruction and devastationthe leader told the press. But I must also say that it is encouraging to see the enormous solidarity between the peoples of their countries. »
The head of the European Commission announced that the European Union has two potential sources of aid – the cohesion fund and the solidarity fund – that it can use to “contribute to the financing of repair and reconstruction”.
