EU chief visits flood-stricken region and pledges billions in swift aid
Ursula Von der Leyen paid a visit to a flood-damaged region in southeastern Poland.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday pledged billions of euros for flood recovery for Central European countries that suffered enormous damage to infrastructure and housing during the current flooding that has claimed 24 lives in the region.
Ms Von der Leyen paid a visit to a flood-damaged region in southeastern Poland and met the government heads of the affected countries — Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
She said funds will be quickly available for repair from the EU’s solidarity fund.
She said no contribution from the individual countries would be required for the money to be released and stressed that in the crisis situation swift action was required.
“Here we say it’s 100% European money, no co-financing,” Ms von der Leyen told a news briefing. “These are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times need extraordinary measures.”
A massive flood wave has been moving across Central Europe and threatening new areas.
Heavy rains also caused flooding and evacuation of some 1,000 people in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. In Central Europe, the receding waters revealed the scale of the destruction caused by exceptionally heavy rains that began a week ago.
Italy’s vice minister for transport and infrastructure, Galeazzo Bignami, said at a news conference on Thursday that two people were reported missing in Bagnocavallo, in the Ravenna province.
At least 800 residents in Ravenna and almost 200 in Bologna province spent the night in shelters, schools and sports centres as local rivers overflowed.
Trains were suspended and schools closed while residents have been advised to avoid travel and work from home where possible.
