Brussels, 21/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 21 November, the European Parliament approved (661 votes in favour, 17 against and 6 abstentions) the aid of €670 million under the EU Solidarity Fund for the victims of the earthquakes which hit the Italian region of Emilia Romagna in May of this year (see EUROPE 10730). For this, the Parliament approved the rectifying budget no.5/2012, which was the only agreement reached between the Council and the Parliament at the most recent conciliation meeting on the 2013 budget. The Italian authorities put the total direct damage at €13 billion, a figure which represents 0.86% of Italy's GNI (gross national income) and is nearly four times higher than the intervention threshold of the Solidarity Fund. The earthquakes left 27 dead, some 350 injured and more than 45,000 people evacuated from their homes. Buildings, infrastructure, shops, industrial sites, farms and the rich cultural heritage of the Italian region suffered considerable damage. (LC/transl.fl)