EU Solidarity Fund: Commission moves to help Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria after May's major floods

Photo: BGNES

EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, has today announced an aid package worth nearly €80 million proposed by the European Commission for Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria after flooding disasters struck the countries in May and June 2014.

The proposed aid of €60.2m to Serbia, €8.96m to Croatia and €10.5m to Bulgaria is to help cover part of the emergency costs incurred by the public authorities in these three countries due to the disasters. In particular, it will help to restore vital infrastructure and services, reimburse the cost of emergency and rescue operations, and help cover some of the clean-up costs in the disaster-stricken regions.

The support, under the European Solidarity Fund, still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council. Am amending budget is likely to be proposed by the commission in the coming days.

Background

Bulgaria: Some €311,3m worth of damage was reported, again above the threshold for the Fund. Flooding on 19 June 2014 significantly affected the Eastern, North-Eastern and Central parts of the country. The regions of Varna, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Burgas, Montana, Kyustendil, Plovdiv, Haskovo, Yambol and the Sofia-region suffered most. In the coastal municipality of Asparuhovo (Varna) heavy rainfall and a tidal wave destroyed houses and farms, flooded buildings and streets and destroyed cars. Electricity and communication networks throughout the region were disrupted. 15 casualties were reported, while hundreds had to be evacuated and temporarily housed. There are damages to the public infrastructure and facilities in the areas of energy, water and water resources, telecommunications, transport, health, education, emergency services, cultural heritage and protected natural areas.