The worst floods in Central Europe in at least twenty years have caused extensive damage, from Romania to Poland. At least 24 people have died, bridges have been destroyed, agricultural areas flooded, and villages and towns have been covered with a thick layer of mud and debris.
The ten billion euros mentioned would be used, among other things, for the reconstruction of highways, roads, and railways, "depending on the preferences and needs of the countries." On Thursday, the EU Parliament called on the European Commission to further increase the EU Solidarity Fund.
Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) was pleased that no counter-financing was needed for the emergency aid. The heads of government of Slovakia and the Czech Republic also attended the meeting in Poland. Besides Austria, Poland and the two neighboring countries were heavily affected by the recent storms and floods.
With the one billion in Austria’s own disaster fund, now – with EU aid – 1.5 billion euros are available for recovery investments. "The EU funds that are now being released will benefit our states together," Nehammer said at a joint press conference with colleagues from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
Moreover, Nehammer called to keep this disaster out of the current campaign for the Austrian parliamentary elections (September 29). However, he acknowledged that the government could have done more for water retention and management of rivers and canals.
Czech Prime Minister Fiala called the EU aid “very important.” Many people in his country have lost their homes. Much infrastructure was destroyed. “All of this has to be rebuilt.” His Slovak counterpart Fico said the efficiency of the summit in Poland would help “increase trust in the EU.”
The recent problems in Poland have caused significant damage to the agricultural sector. Many farmers are struggling with destroyed crops. As a result, many businesses are on the brink of bankruptcy. The Polish government has taken measures to support farmers, such as suspending inspections and extending deadlines for damage reports. In addition, special commissions are quickly deployed to assess losses.
In Wrocław, the flood situation remains tense. As a precaution, flood protection has been reinforced and thousands of sandbags stacked. The water level of the Oder River is very high, but the river has not yet caused damage to the city center or surrounding districts. The situation is most difficult in the western part of the city, where the Bystrzyca River flows. During the Oder flood in 1997, one third of the city, with 630,000 inhabitants, was submerged.