Brussels, 19/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The regions of England, Wales and Northern Ireland that were devastated by heavy flooding in the summer of 2007 are to receive €162.4 million in aid from the Solidarity Fund, the Commission has announced in a press release. This amount will cover some of the costs of emergency measures such as restoring roads, water infrastructure and schools, and costs incurred by local authorities in cleaning up the stricken areas. UK Minister for local Government John Healey said in a letter to Regional Policy commissioner Danuta Hubner, that the full amount of the grant would be used to finance emergency operations in the affected regions.
In Strasbourg on 11 March, the EP approved the legislative proposals which mean that the sum of €162.4 millions can be allocated to the disaster areas (see EUROPE 9621). (G.B./transl.rt)