European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 27 August 2014:
EU Commissioner for Regional Policy,
Johannes Hahn, has today announced an aid package worth nearly €47
million proposed by the European Commission for Sardinia (Italy),
Kefalonia (Ionian Islands, Greece), Slovenia and Croatia after a series
of natural disasters struck the regions in late 2013 and early 2014.
The proposed aid of €16.3m to Italy is
in response to the serious flooding in November 2013, while €3.7m is
earmarked for Greece to help cover the costs of an earthquake and
several aftershocks in Kefalonia and the Ionian Islands in January-March
2014. Both Slovenia and Croatia were severely affected by an ice storm
in January and February 2014 and have been granted aid worth €18.4m and
€8.6m respectively.
Commissioner Hahn, who oversees the Fund and signed today’s proposal, said "This
decision reflects the very nature of this Fund, which is solidarity
with our fellow Member States and neighbours in their time of need after
natural disasters. The European Solidarity Fund helps these countries
get back on their feet and regain stability which is threatened by the
severe damage to economic sectors such as tourism, or destruction of
essential infrastructure. The amount of funding proposed will enable
Italy, Greece, Slovenia and Croatia to recover from their respective
disasters and reimburse rescue costs in the affected regions."
He added: “These
amounts are specific and targeted to help address the immediate and
direct impact of natural disasters. In addition, the overall development
of these regions is supported through the European Structural and
Investment Funds. Concentrating resources in business support, research
and innovation, ICT and the low carbon economy they can help these
regions turn their disaster into an opportunity for developing a
sustainable economic model based on their local strengths and
characteristics”
The support, under the European
Solidarity Fund, still needs to be approved by the European Parliament
and the Council. Providing it is, it will go some way in covering the
emergency costs incurred by the public authorities in these four Member
States due to the disasters. The grant will in particular, 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.
Background
On 18-19 November 2013, Sardinia
(Italy) experienced extreme and intense rainfall with many rivers
bursting their banks triggering floods and landslides. Serious damage
was caused to residential homes, businesses and the agriculture
industry, while there was severe disruption of major and local transport
links and essential public infrastructure networks. Italy reported 16
casualties, over 1,700 displaced people and a missing person. Italy
estimates that the repair of the road and supply network will last over 2
years.
- On the Greek island of Kefalonia, on 26 January 2014, an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck just northeast of Argostolion and was felt on the neighbouring Ionian Islands and throughout the entire territory of Greece. Dozens of aftershocks followed in the weeks and months after, with significant consequences on the environment and infrastructure. Greece reports that some 100 houses have to be demolished on the island, while thousands of houses suffered damage and are temporarily uninhabitable, forcing resident to sleep in tents, ships and emergency accommodation. Also, schools and nursery schools were closed until mid-February while falling rocks and landslides made many roads impassable. The earthquake had a significant impact on the social infrastructures and entrepreneurial activities of the Ionian Islands, known for their cultural heritage, and tourism sector preparations for the summer season were badly affected.
In late January this year, some of the worst
winter blizzards for decades hit Slovenia, and Croatia. In the case of
Slovenia, almost half of the Alpine nation's forests had been damaged by
ice (amounting to a cost of €214m), while one in four homes was left
without power, with heavy snow bringing down electricity lines and
trees. The Slovene authorities report severe
damage to electric power facilities, public and private buildings,
businesses and to the transport and road network. Due
to the harsh conditions and the damage to power lines, 120 000
households were without electricity, representing over 15% of Slovenia's
population
Similarly Croatia, particularly the
northwest and northern Adriatic regions experienced severe flooding,
damaging basic infrastructure, and both private and public property. Croatian
reported that 5 counties were affected: Primorje-Gorski Kotar,
Karlovac, Sisak-Moslavina, Varaždin and Zagreb. Due to the heavy weight
of ice on trees and infrastructure, trees fell and trunks cracked, while
power lines (covered up to 10 cm of ice) snapped. Main roads were
impassable and widespread power and water cuts affected citizens' daily
lives, as well as the functioning of public institutions and businesses. Also, Croatian reported over 56 000 hectares of forests of which nearly 10 000 hectares were destroyed.
The total annual allocation
available for the Solidarity Fund in 2014 is €530,604m (€500m in 2011
prices). In order to take account of the lower annual allocation
introduced in 2014 (€500m plus any remainder of the preceding year
compared with €1 billion before) and to avoid early depletion of the
Fund, the maximum financial contribution for a given disaster may not
exceed two-thirds of the annual allocation of the Fund - €353,736m in
2014.
The European Union Solidarity
Fund (EUSF) was set up to support EU member states and accession
countries by offering financial support after major natural disasters.
The Fund was created in the wake of the severe floods in Central Europe
in the summer of 2002.
The revised EU Solidarity Fund
Regulation entered into force on 28 June and simplifies the existing
rules so that aid can be paid out more rapidly than before. The use of
advance payments will be become possible for the first time for Member
States from 2015.
More information......................http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-948_en.htm?locale=en
27/8/14
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