Ursula von der Leyen announces ten billion euros in aid for countries affected by floods

The EU at the bedside of its members. On Thursday 19 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Wroclaw (Poland) ten billion euros in aid for Central European countries affected by flooding, following the passage of the Boris depression. Since last week, strong winds, exceptionally heavy rainfall and flooding have caused 24 deaths in Austria, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic.

“At first glance, it is possible to mobilise ten billion euros from the Cohesion Fund for the affected countries. This is an emergency response”said Ursula 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 devastation” caused by the floods, she added.

“But I must also say that it is heartening to see the enormous solidarity among the people of your countries,” said the President of the European Commission to the press. She specified that the European Union had two sources of potential aid – the Cohesion Fund and the Solidarity Fund – which it could use to “contribute to financing repair and reconstruction.”