Brussels, 16/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 September, the European Parliament approved the acts (a decision and a rectifying budget, number 7/2009) to mobilise €109.37 million in favour of France, to pay for part of the damage incurred when Hurricane Klaus swept through the country in January 2009, causing damage in 31 départements of the southwest of the country. The total, damage caused in France has been estimated at €3.8 billion. The funds agreed will be taken from the 2009 EU budget, under the Solidarity Fund. This fund was set up in the wake of the floods which hit central Europe in summer 2002. The report by Reimer Böge (EPP, Germany) on the decision to mobilise this money was approved by 581 votes in favour, 23 against and 6 abstentions. (L.C./transl.fl)