EU chief visits flood-stricken region in Poland and pledges billions in swift aid

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen pledged billions of euros for flood recovery for Central European countries which suffered enormous damage during ongoing flooding. 

On Thursday, the EU chief visited a flood-damaged region in south-eastern Poland and met with the government heads of affected countries – Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. 

Von der Leyen said funds will swiftly be available for repair from the EU’s solidarity fund. 

Acknowledging it would not be enough in the face of the enormous destruction in the region, she also pledged 10 billion euros for urgent repairs. 

“These are extraordinary times and extraordinary times need extraordinary measures. At first sight, 10 billion euros are possible to mobilize from the cohesion funds for the countries that are affected. This is an emergency reaction now.” 

She said no contribution from the individual countries would be required for the money to be released and stressed that in such a crisis swift action was required. 

Normally, EU countries are required to co-finance projects to access cohesion funding. 

Von der Leyen made the announcement in the Polish city of Wroclaw. 

Homes have been destroyed and several people have died as a result of the flooding across the region.