Bad weather, EU prepares 446.6 million for floods in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany

Brussels – Over 400 million euros to help weather-stricken Italy: the European Commission is calling to allocate 378.8 million to Emilia-Romagna and 67.8 million to Tuscany, victims in 2023 of violent rains and floods that brought local communities to their knees. The financial support is part of a larger package of more than a billion, mobilized to support not only Italy but also Slovenia, Austria, Greece, and France, other EU member states harshly hit by extreme weather conditions and for which the European Solidarity Fund was already used in 2023, the year that affected the EU more than any other in terms of bad weather.

Today’s (Aug. 27) announcement does not mean that the resources are made available. That of the Community Executive is a proposal that the Parliament and the Council will have to approve, and only after their green light will the states be able to receive the resources with immediate effect and in one lump sum.

Floods in Emilia-Romagna occurred in May 2023, causing 17 deaths and total damage estimated at around 10 billion euros. It was such a tragedy that the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, went in person to bring the EU’s solidarity to the people and the region. She promised that the Solidarity Fund would be used again in support of Italy, and today, she kept her promise. The Tuscany flood occurred in November 2023, causing eight deaths and 1.9 billion euros in damage.

Italy receives 446.6 million euros, nearly half of the 1.02 billion package. “This aid not only provides relief and assistance for emergency costs but also helps EU countries to better rebuild in the context of the challenges posed by climate change,” said Cohesion Commissioner Elisa Ferreira.