EU leader Vonder Leyen vows to provide €10 billion in financial assistance for regions impacted by flooding within the Union.
Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President, declared €10 billion in EU assistance for the Central and Eastern European regions witnessing flood devastation. She mentioned during her tour of Wrocław, Poland, that €10 billion from the Cohesion Fund can be allocated immediately for the calamity-stricken areas. She described the situation as an urgent intervention. The sight of the destruction and devastation left her feeling distressed.
Invited by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, President von der Leyen paid a visit to Wrocław alongside Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and the leaders of Slovakia and Czech Republic, Robert Fico and Petr Fiala. Their meeting was to strategize post-flood recovery plans.
Heavy rainfall caused by Tropical Storm "Anett" (internationally known as "Boris") began battering Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and other Eastern and Central European countries since last Friday. This excessive rainfall has resulted in catastrophic floods. Over 20 unfortunate lives have been claimed in these flood ravaged areas.
Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the EU's assistance of €10 billion is not limited to Poland, but is also intended for other Central and Eastern European countries affected by the floods. The leaders in Wrocław agreed to collate the unique challenges faced by each affected country to create more tailored recovery strategies.
