Austria will receive €500 million from an EU fund to help deal with the damage caused by last weekend’s storms and flooding, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has said.
The announcement follows a ‘flood summit’ of Central European leaders in Wroclaw, Poland, called by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Speaking at the summit on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would be making €10 billion available in total to support relief efforts across the affected countries.
The funds will be used for the reconstruction of motorways, roads, and railways, “depending on the preferences and needs of the countries,” von der Leyen stated.
Also in attendance were Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
Nehammer noted that, with Austria’s own disaster fund contributing €1 billion, a total of €1.5 billion is now available for aid.
“It’s important that the aid is delivered without unnecessary bureaucracy,” the Chancellor stressed. “It’s a positive signal that Brussels is ready to assist member states when needed.” The EU funds, he said, “will benefit our countries collectively.” Nehammer was speaking during a joint press conference, where he addressed his counterparts from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, as well as Romania, which was not represented at the summit. “My thanks go to Donald Tusk for the initiative and to Ursula von der Leyen for her excellent cooperation with the European Commission.”
In Lower Austria, the first payments from the disaster fund have already been disbursed.
The storm front brought torrential rain and severe flooding to Austria, Poland, and several other Central and Eastern European nations late last week. More than 23 people have lost their lives in the flooded regions, including five in Lower Austria.
In related news, the Ministry of Climate Protection has said it is committing €50 million to improve natural flood defences, funding the restoration of riverbanks and streams. “Right now, clearing up is our main priority,” said Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler. “But we also need to look ahead and take preventive measures.”
“Every step we take to lessen future disasters is vital, and that’s exactly where this money will go,” Gewessler stressed. “More space for our rivers and healthier soils mean better flood protection.” The funds will be distributed through a special round of the Biodiversity Fund.