Brussels, 17/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to activate the solidarity fund following the severe flooding in Central and Eastern Europe in May and June. The Commission is proposing that the Council and European Parliament release a total amount of around over €182 million from the solidarity fund which was set up in 2002. Poland will receive €105 million, Slovakia €20 million, Hungary €22 million, Czech Republic €5 million, Romania €25 million and Croatia (which has the status of an applicant country) €4 million. The Council and Parliament will probably decide at the start of 2011. The money could then be made available by March, according to Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly, drawing a comparison: the solidarity fund receives an annual allocation of €1 billion, but in 2010, €80 million has already been sought for Ireland, France and Portugal. (G.B./transl.rt)