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MEPs called on the EU to quickly help countries affected by the floods

by AI | 19.Sep 2024 | Europe in brief AI

MEPs call for more flexible provision of funds from the EU Solidarity Fund, which flood-affected states can apply for.

Member of the European Parliament Danuše Nerudová at the plenary session of the European Parliament. Photo EP/ Laurie Dieffembacq

Strasbourg – The European Union should provide financial assistance to Central European countries, including the Czech Republic, as soon as possible, which have been affected by devastating floods. Members of the European Parliament agreed on this in a resolution today, also calling for long-term investments in flood prevention and other extreme climate events. MEPs in the resolution are calling for more flexible provision of funds from the EU Solidarity Fund, which affected states can request.

“From past cases, it is more than clear that the EU has a huge problem providing the required financial resources quickly. And it applies: who gives quickly, gives twice,” said the Czech member of the largest People’s Party faction in the EP Danuše Nerudová (STAN), who participated in the preparation of the resolution.

The EU created the fund in 2002 in response to catastrophic floods that hit Central Europe at the time. Since then, member and partner states have used it on more than 130 occasions and have received a total of over 8.2 billion euros (205 billion crowns) from it. However, MPs are bothered by the long administrative process, which can last several months, during which the affected areas have to wait for their money. The Parliament has therefore called on the European Commission to find a way to speed up the release of funds from the fund and be flexible in handling state requests.

MPs also want more money to be moved to the prevention of extreme events associated with climate change within regional funds in the next multiannual EU budget, especially for the most affected regions. They called on the Commission to urgently present specific proposals from the long-term plan to adapt the EU to climate change, which the head of the EC Ursula von der Leyenová described as one of the priorities of the upcoming five-year term. (September 19)