Flooding in Central Europe blamed for 24 deaths as EU promises $11 billion in emergency repair funding
CBSN
Warsaw, Poland — European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday pledged billions of euros in aid for Central European countries that suffered enormous damage to infrastructure and housing during the massive flooding that has so far claimed 24 lives in the region. Von der Leyen paid a quick visit to a flood-damaged area in southeast Poland and met with heads of the governments of the affected countries — Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
She said funds will be made available quickly for infrastructure repair from the EU's solidarity fund, as well as 10 billion euros ($11 billion) from what is called the cohesion fund — for the most urgent repairs. In a special approach, no co-financing will be required from these countries for the money to be released.
"Here we say it's 100% European money, no co-financing," von der Leyen told a news briefing. "These are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times need extraordinary measures."
