European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday in Wroclaw (Poland) aid of 10 billion euros (around 15 billion Canadian dollars) from the European Union (EU) cohesion fund for Central European countries affected by the floods.
Commission chief meets leaders of four storm-hit Central European countries in Wroclaw Boris, where since last week, strong winds, exceptionally heavy rainfall and floods have caused 24 deaths in the Czech Republic (5), Austria (5), Poland (7) and Romania (7).
“At first glance, it is possible to mobilise €10 billion from the Cohesion Fund for the affected countries. This is an emergency response,” said Mrme von der Leyen after a meeting with Polish, Czech, Austrian and Slovak heads of government.
“He was for me […] “It’s heartbreaking to see the destruction and devastation” caused by the floods, she added.
The Commission chief said the EU had two potential sources of aid – the Cohesion Fund and the Solidarity Fund – which it could use to “help finance repair and reconstruction”.
“Extraordinary measures”
“We will mobilise cohesion funds in an unusual way, so that, first of all, they can be used very flexibly, depending on needs,” Mrme von der Leyen.
According to her, the beneficiaries of the aid will be able to use it “as pre-financing”, so that the money flows even before the planned investment, and without the need for a national contribution.
“This is 100% European money, with no co-financing,” Mr.me von der Leyen.
“Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures,” she told reporters alongside Polish head of government Donald Tusk, Czech head of government Petr Fiala, Slovakian head of government Robert Fico and Austrian head of government Karl Nehammer.
“Half of these ten billion will go to Poland,” Mr Tusk said in the evening.
The Czech Prime Minister spoke of the “good news” and two billion euros for his country, and the Austrian Chancellor mentioned the figure of 500 million euros for Austria.
It was not clear how much money went to Slovakia and Romania.
The head of the Romanian government was not at the meeting due to a meeting of his High Council of National Defense.
On the X service, Mr. Nehammer thanked Donald Tusk “for the initiative” of the meeting and Mr.me von der Leyen “for good cooperation”.
“Everything destroyed”
The regional summit was held in Wroclaw, in western Poland, a city of 670,000 people besieged by water.
The peak of the wave reached the city on Thursday, and although the water level there is lower than in 1997, when the city experienced a catastrophic flood, it could remain there for several days, which fuels fears about the solidity of the dikes.
On Thursday, Donald Tusk warned against any unjustified “euphoria” and “relief” in thinking that “the worst is over.”
Rain has stopped across much of central Europe, but swollen rivers still threaten towns and villages downstream.
In some places, the water has “literally destroyed everything,” leaving the landscape devastated “like after a war,” Polish Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak said Thursday.
In Poland, several towns and villages were completely destroyed by the flood, which left behind a landscape of desolation, with demolished houses, cut bridges, damaged road and railway infrastructure. In some localities, residents still lack drinking water and electricity.
Across the country, collections for money and basic necessities are being organised, as local authorities begin to assess the damage, which could run into billions of zlotys.
The Polish government has announced that it has released two billion zlotys (470 million euros) in direct aid to people and communities affected by the floods.
In Vienna, the government announced on Wednesday that the country’s disaster relief fund would be increased to one billion euros.