Brussels, 13/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commissioner responsible for Regional Policy, Michel Barnier, signed agreements with German and Austria Ministers on 12 December in Copenhagen in order to activate EU Solidarity Funds to the regions affected by the serious flooding last year. The 21 million euro subsidy granted to France will essentially be used to pay for costs incurred in the immediate repair of damaged infrastructures, temporary accommodation, consolidation of preventive infrastructures, protection of cultural heritage, as well as cleaning up in disaster zones. The 444 million euro granted to Germany will be used for paying for the costs incurred in rescue operations and installation of flood protection facilities, as well as repairs to buildings suffering from residual water damage and restoring social infrastructure (children's nursery schools, hospitals etc.), energy supplies and drinking water. The subsidy of 134 million to Austria will in part go towards refunding some of the costs for repairs to transport infrastructure and water elimination, setting up river management facilities, supplying the people affected by flooding with the essentials, safeguarding cultural heritage and cleaning up in affected zones.