Ursula von der Leyen announces €328 million for Slovenia flood recovery

On September 2, 2023, Ursula von der Leyen, the incoming President of the EU Commission, announced €328 million in additional funding for Slovenia to aid in recovery from severe flooding that occurred in November 2023. This announcement was made during her visit to the village of Črna na Koroškem, which was heavily impacted by the floods. The funding is part of a broader €1 billion aid package allocated to several European countries affected by flooding earlier in the year, including Italy, Austria, Greece, and France. The total aid for Slovenia amounts to €428.4 million, which includes an advance payment of €100 million approved in November 2023. The Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform, Elisa Ferreira, emphasized that this financial support not only addresses immediate emergency costs but also assists in rebuilding efforts that consider the challenges posed by climate change. In 2023, Europe faced significant flooding events that affected approximately 1.6 million people and accounted for a substantial portion of the continent's climate-related economic losses. The European Solidarity Fund (EUSF), established in 2002, has mobilized over €8.6 billion to support emergency and recovery operations across the EU. This fund has been instrumental in repairing infrastructure, protecting cultural heritage, and facilitating clean-up operations in response to natural disasters. Von der Leyen described the EUSF as a reliable system that ensures effective use of funds for reconstruction and adaptation to climate change. The process for disbursing these funds involves submitting assistance requests from impacted countries to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. Following the allocation of funds, European experts assess the effectiveness of the spending, culminating in a report that ensures accountability and transparency in the recovery efforts.