Brussels, 01/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 1st December, the European Commission proposed to grant aid of €15.06 million to the regions of Hungary which were hit by severe flooding in the spring. This aid, from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), will be used to reimburse part of the cost of emergency measures incurred by Hungary in assisting the people of the affected regions (rescue services, cleaning up of disaster stricken areas and restoration of basic infrastructures to working condition).
Melting snow, heavy rain and the unusually high levels water coming from Austria on the Danube led to severe flooding in Hungary in April and May 2006. The total cost of direct damage of this natural disaster was estimated at €519 million. The budget authority (Council and Parliament) has still to adopt an amendment to the current (2006) budget before the money can be paid to Hungary. The conditions for implementing aid will then be laid down in an agreement between the Commission and the beneficiary country. After the opinion of the EP, the Council of Ministers always examines proposals on improvement of the EU Solidarity Fund for the period 2007-2013. (lc)