Spain is still in the process of calculating the cost of the damage caused by the recent floods in the country and hopes to obtain as much funding as possible from the EU, according to statements made in Brussels on Wednesday 20 November by the Spanish Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres.
Among the support tools requested by Spain are the European Union Solidarity Fund and the regulation aimed at providing rapid additional support, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), to Member States that have been seriously impacted by regional disasters (see EUROPE 13524/8).
In addition, there is the possibility of “reprogramming” aid under the economic ‘recovery plan’. “All of this needs to be approved as quickly as possible”, said Mr Torres (see EUROPE 13522/11).
Spain will need to apply for aid from the Solidarity Fund within 12 weeks of the date of the first damage caused by the disaster, in addition to submitting a detailed estimate to the European Commission for approval.
Mr Torres pointed out that the aid from the Solidarity Fund (€1,144 million per year between 2024 and 2027) is a “meagre” amount. He therefore expects more from the reallocation of funds than the ‘regional emergency support for reconstruction’ regulation will allow.
The Minister also felt that the damage suffered by the agricultural sectors could be eligible for funding from the agricultural crisis reserve fund, although he was unable to specify the amount involved.
Spain's Minister for the Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, has suggested the response should take the form of two national aid packages worth over €14 billion.
In addition, the four presidents of the Spanish regions affected by the natural disasters made a statement on Wednesday at the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).
The President of the Autonomous Region of Valencia, Carlos Mazón, felt that European solidarity was essential and spoke of the “significant after-effects” caused by the floods. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)