Brussels, 09/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption on Thursday 8 October of the report by Reimer Böge on releasing an allocation from the EU Solidarity Fund in 2009, the European Parliament has approved payment of €493,771,159 in financial support for Italy, which called for intervention from the fund after the Abruzzo region was hit by an earthquake in April 2009. The earthquake claimed 300 lives and caused considerable damage.
According to an estimate by the relevant European Commission services, the total direct damage amounted to €10.2 billion. Under such conditions, the disaster falls into the category of “major natural disaster” and is therefore fully eligible for such aid in application of the legal base.
This is the third time funds have been made available from the fund this year. €121,200 has already been allocated to meet the disaster relief needs of Romania and France. (L.C/transl.jl)