The aid package was approved with 555 votes in favour, 7 against and 4 abstentions
On Wednesday, MEPs approved the disbursement of almost €720 million from the EU Solidarity Fund to help seven countries hit by natural disasters in 2021.
The amount of 718.5 million euros from the European Union Solidarity Fund will be distributed as follows:
· For the earthquake in Crete: 1.4 million euros
· For the eruption of the volcano in La Palma, Spain: 9.5 million euros
Regarding the disastrous floods of July 2021:
· 612.6 million euros for Germany
· 87.7 million euros for Belgium
· 4.7 million euros for the Netherlands
· 797,520 euros for Austria
· 1.8 million euros for Luxembourg
The help package was approved with 555 votes in favour7 against and 4 abstentions.
More information is available here in the Commission proposal and draft report by rapporteur Henrike Hahn (Greens, Germany).
Statements
Rapporteur Henrike Hahn (Greens, Germany) said: “As a sign of European solidarity, the funds approved today by Parliament will make a significant contribution to reconstruction efforts after natural disasters of this scale. Tackling the causes of climate change should be a priority for the EU to minimize the impact and occurrence of extreme weather events in the future.”
Relevant information
The European Union Solidarity Fund was set up to deal with large-scale natural disasters and is a tangible example of European solidarity towards disaster-affected areas. The Fund was created to deal with the effects of severe flooding in Central Europe in the summer of 2002. Since then, it has been used in 100 incidents of natural disasters, including floods, forest fires, earthquakes, storms and drought. The Fund has also been mobilized for 20 public health emergencies. So far 28 different European countries have received support and more than 7 billion euros have been disbursed.
Nikos Andritsos
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
