Why disaster relief in Europe often comes too late

The floods have completely destroyed Klaus Feuser's restaurants.

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A long road fraught with bureaucratic hurdles

The EUSF’s regulations make reconstruction even more difficult, as funds may not necessarily be used to improve infrastructure resilience, a principle known as “Build Back Better”.

Current regulations limit funding to immediate reconstruction. They often do not include improvements that would make structures more resilient to future disasters. This regulatory framework hinders the EU’s ability to not only respond effectively to disasters, but also to proactively improve infrastructure.

The recent floods in Germany, Italy and Spain show how crucial the EU Solidarity Fund is for crisis management in Europe. After severe floods hit Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and the Aosta Valley in May and June this year, the Commission made €116 million available in response. Around €112 million of that amount will go to Germany, and just under €4 million to Italy.

The regions of Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, which were affected by severe flooding last year, are now also receiving support. However, these sums represent only a fraction of the billions in damage caused.

Currently, Spain is also waiting for support to be provided.

This year’s European elections offer a glimmer of hope

This year’s European elections offered cause for optimist that reforms to the Solidarity Fund could yet be imminent.

Indeed, a recent resolution adopted by MEPs called for an expansion of the EUSF budget in order to strengthen Europe’s resilience to climate-related disasters.

“We need to further develop a structure for dealing with extreme weather,” said Elisa Ferreira, EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms. “The Solidarity Fund is a powerful sign of European togetherness, and people in affected regions can rely on this support.”

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Publish date : 2024-11-01 10:34:00

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