New challenges for the EU border guard. Billions of dollars in support for countries after the floods
The European Union is launching billions of dollars in support for countries affected by natural disasters. The additional funds will help with reconstruction after floods that destroyed infrastructure in five countries.
During its session in October, the European Parliament approved the mobilization of over €1 billion from the EU Solidarity Fund to support five countries in repairing damage from the 2023 floods. This money is to go to Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France, covering part of the costs of rebuilding infrastructure such as roads, bridges and railways. Italy and Slovenia in particular, hit by heavy floods, will receive the most financial support.
European politicians expressed solidarity with the victims of disasters and called for an increase in the budget of the Solidarity Fund so that the EU can respond more effectively to similar situations in the future. They also drew attention to the need to invest in preventive measures to minimize the effects of future natural disasters.
Support for flood victims
Although the European Union takes action and prepares appropriate financial resources, much depends on the member states, which must make bold and responsible decisions. Climate change is happening so quickly that fighting its effects, such as floods, storms and hurricanes, is becoming more and more difficult.
Data from the European Environment Agency show that natural disasters in Europe have become more frequent and larger in scale over recent decades. An example is the 2021 floods that affected Germany and Belgium, causing economic losses worth EUR 44 million and over 200 deaths. In turn, Slovenia, after the 2023 flood, recorded losses equal to 16% of its GDP, and Greece is struggling with the huge costs of Hurricane Daniel.
In September 2023, floods also affected countries such as Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced additional support of EUR 10 billion from the Cohesion Fund, of which half of the funds – approximately EUR 5 billion – are to go to Poland, one of the most affected countries. These funds will be pre-financing, which means quick transfer of funds for investments that can be implemented without own contribution and in a simplified procedure.
Marta Wcisło, Polish MEP, emphasized that assistance from the Cohesion Fund and the Solidarity Fund is now an absolute priority. She emphasized that the European Union as a community should act together, especially in difficult moments such as natural disasters.
The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was created in 2002 to support countries in situations of natural disasters. So far, over EUR 8.6 billion has been mobilized, helping to respond to 130 disasters in 24 Member States and several accession countries, such as Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Türkiye. Unlike the EUSF, the Cohesion Fund is a long-term recovery tool, supporting the reconstruction of infrastructure and preparation for future disasters.
