Brussels, 20/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Regional Policy Commissioner Pawel Samecki and the under-secretary of state for the presidency of the Council of Ministers in Italy and head of the department for civil protection, Guido Bertolaso, signed, on Friday 20 November, an agreement confirming the granting of €493.7 million to Italy further to the earthquake in the Abruzzo region in April. Aid is made available under the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF). The agreement signed between the Commission and Italy defines the modalities of use for this allocation throughout the province of L'Aquila, the largest part of the Abruzzo region, and in neighbouring regions. Aid will contribute to covering urgent operations, search and rescue operations, provisional shelter for those whose homes have been damaged, and temporary housing projects.
In July 2009, the European Commission presented to the Council and Parliament a proposal aimed at mobilising the fund (see EUROPE 9947). In October 2009, the Parliament and Council adopted a correcting budget, which allows funds to be made available for regions affected. The good cooperation of the Italian authorities with the European Commission explains the relative speed with which procedures are carried out, the Commission states in a press release. (G.B./transl.jl)