“The European Union is mobilising €60 million in aid for the damage caused by the floods in the UK. This confirms the solidarity of the EU through its budget”, stated José Manuel Fernandes MEP, EPP Group Spokesman in the Budgets Committee and Rapporteur for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to the United Kingdom.
In December 2015-January 2016, heavy rainfall and strong winds hit 11 regions in the UK which led to flooding and infrastructure damage. This caused destruction of public and private infrastructure, private homes and devastation to agriculture.
On 26 February 2016, the United Kingdom submitted an application to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund. In their application, the authorities of the United Kingdom stressed that the damage assessment was incomplete and that the relevant figures were only provisional. On 22 September 2016, they presented the final file.
“When one Member State has a problem, others actively collaborate and help. The UK will benefit from EU solidarity despite Brexit and the triggering of Article 50”, concluded the Rapporteur.
The European Union Solidarity Fund aims to enable the Union to respond in a rapid, efficient and flexible manner to emergencies and to show solidarity with the population of regions affected by disasters.
The European Parliament will vote in favour of the €60 million aid for the UK tomorrow afternoon.
