Today, the European Commission has proposed to allocate €280 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to support flood recovery in Austria, Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova.
This initiative was taken in response to the severe floods that affected these countries in September and October 2024. The proposed financial assistance is distributed as follows: €42.8 million for Austria, €114 million for Czechia, €76 million for Poland, €2.1 million for Slovakia, €45.7 million for Bosnia and Herzegovina and €195,200 for Moldova.
As the main EU post-disaster relief instrument, the EUSF will finance various aspects of disaster recovery, including the repair of damaged infrastructure, the protection of affected populations, such as temporary accommodation, and the improvement of preventive infrastructure. It will also support the safeguarding of cultural heritage sites, and cleaning-up operations.
The 2024 Central European floods, catalysed by storm Boris, brought unprecedented rainfall that led to extensive flooding, starting in Austria and Czechia in September before expanding to Poland and other Central European regions. This was followed in early October by severe flash floods and landslides in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, which caused significant damage and loss.
In the height of this crisis, the EU extended additional assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism upon the requests of Czechia and Poland. During a visit to the devastated areas in September 2024, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU's unwavering support for the affected communities.
Next Steps
Today's proposal needs the approval of both the European Parliament and the Council, after which the Commission will finalize the necessary implementing decisions to release the financial aid in a single instalment.