BiH to receive 45.7 million euros from EU Solidarity Fund for flood-affected area reconstruction

(Patria) - The European Commission today proposed allocating 280 million euros from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to support flood recovery in Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moldova.

This initiative was undertaken in response to severe floods that hit these countries in September and October 2024. The proposed financial aid is distributed as follows: 42.8 million euros for Austria, 114 million euros for the Czech Republic, 76 million euros for Poland, 2.1 million euros for Slovakia, 45.7 million euros for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 195,200 euros for Moldova.

As the EU's main instrument for post-disaster assistance, the EUSF will finance various aspects of disaster recovery, including repairing damaged infrastructure, protecting affected populations, such as through temporary housing, and improving preventive infrastructure. It will also support the protection of cultural heritage sites and clean-up operations.

The 2024 Central European floods, triggered by Storm Boris, brought unprecedented rainfall leading to major flooding, starting in Austria and the Czech Republic in September, before spreading to Poland and other Central European regions. This was followed in early October by major flash floods and landslides in parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, causing significant damage and loss of life.

At the height of this crisis, the EU, at the request of the Czech Republic and Poland, extended additional assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. During visits to the devastated areas, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU's unwavering support for the affected communities.

Today's proposal must be approved by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, after which the Commission will finalise the necessary implementing decisions to disburse the financial aid in a single tranche.

The EU Solidarity Fund is a key instrument for supporting disaster recovery in member states and candidate countries. Since its establishment in 2002, the fund has provided over 9.6 billion euros in response to 136 disasters and emergencies (116 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies) in 24 member states (plus the United Kingdom) and 4 countries in the accession process. Emergency interventions and recovery operations carried out by member states can be retroactively financed from the EUSF, starting from the first day of the disaster.

Given the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, and the limited resources of the EUSF, the recently adopted RESTORE regulation allows member states to supplement EUSF assistance with funds from Cohesion Policy.