BRATISLAVA, April 1, (WEBNOVINY) – The European Parliament (EP) Budget Committee has approved paying 182.4 million euro from the Solidarity Fund to six central European countries including Slovakia to help them coping with the impacts of 2010 floods. The funds were approved in spite of the MPs‘ objections towards the means of financing, pushed through by the EU Council.
Estimated overall costs of the damages caused by the 2010 floods are 5.5 billion euro; the direct damages Slovakia suffered cost over 561 million. Slovakia asked for some 20 million euro from the EU Solidarity Fund. According to the European Parliament press attaché to Slovakia Ivana Janikova Stavrovska, the EP will yet have to decide on the exact amount Slovakia will receive.
However, for a long time, the MPs were unable to agree with member states on the way of financing the aid. According to the EP budget committee MPs, in the future, creation of a mechanism for coping with unexpected and urgent situations would be needed.
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