Speaking in Slovenia on Monday (2 September), incoming EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced fresh EU funds to help the country recover from flooding in November 2023 and reiterated the Commission’s commitment to respond to climate change impacts.

As part of her tour of the Balkans, the president of the EU Commission visited the village of Črna na Koroškem in northern Slovenia, which was severely hit by flooding in November 2023.

In the presence of Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, Ursula von der Leyen announced the payment of a further €328 million from the European Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to repair damaged infrastructure.

This sum is part of a larger €1 billion aid package announced last week for Italy (€446.6 million), Austria (€5.2 million), Greece (€101.5 million), and France (€46.7 million) for recovery from a spate of floodings which hit the countries in spring and autumn of 2023.

Slovenia will receive €428.4 million, which includes the sum announced by von der Leyen plus an advance payment of €100m approved in November 2023.

“This aid not only provides relief and assistance with emergency costs but also helps EU countries to rebuild better in the context of the challenges posed by climate change,” said the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform, Elisa Ferreira, in remarks accompanying the announcement.

In 2023, Europe was hit by major floods, which, according to the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT), affected 1.6 million people and caused around 81% of the year’s climate-related economic losses on the continent.

An aid fund for natural disasters

Since its creation in 2002, the EUSF has mobilised more than €8.6 billion to cover part of emergency and recovery operations costs. This sum has been used to repair damaged infrastructure, protect cultural heritage and carry out clean-up operations.

The Fund has supported responses to 110 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies, in 24 EU countries and four candidate countries (Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey).

During her speech in Slovenia, von der Leyen described this European mechanism as “a reliable system” and claimed that “hope is back in Črna.”

The Commission submits impacted countries’ assistance requests to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. Once the money has been paid out, “European experts examine the effectiveness with which the money is spent and, at the end, a report is produced” von der Leyen explained.

This process ensures that the money is fully invested in reconstruction and adaptation to climate change.

Slovenia received advanced payment from the EU Solidarity Fund following the August floods

An advance payment of €100 million from the EU Solidarity Fund for Slovenia’s reconstruction efforts after the August floods was approved by the EU Commission on Wednesday.

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