The European Union (EU) plans to make available 400 million euro ($440 million) to Slovenia to back the country in recovering from the recent floods, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.
“Slovenia can request and will receive financial support from the EU. And we have discussed a package of three components. First of all, from the Solidarity Fund 400 million euro are accessible. Time is of the essence. Therefore, the Commission can pay an advance of up to 100 million euro before the end of the year,” Von der Leyen said in an address to Slovenia’s parliament on Wednesday, according to a press release.
The country could request in addition up to 2.7 billion euro under NextGenerationEU temporary recovery instrument by the end of August and EC will mobilise the European agricultural crisis reserve to help farmers who have lost livestock, crops and machinery, Von der Leyen said at an extraordinary plenary session of Slovenia’s National Assembly.
“And finally, the third element, we are looking at reprogramming existing EU funds. And here, I am speaking in particular of 3.3 billion euro in cohesion funds for Slovenia that can be used until 2027,” Von der Leyen said.
Last week, Slovenia requested from the EU and NATO assistance in dealing with the consequences of the floods which claimed four lives and caused damage worth several billions of euro. Eight member states responded to Slovenia’s call within two days and made available six mobile bridges, four helicopters and 14 excavators.
($ = 0.90839 euro)
Source : See News