Funds to restore damage on the island of Leros and compensate victims on the island of the extreme weather conditions

The extreme weather which hit the island of Leros on 28 March 2015 caused numerous problems and the endless rainfall, hailstorms and landslips have caused irreparable damage. Roads have been closed at several places on the island, homes and shops have been flooded and shop stock ruined and vehicles and crops have been destroyed.

According to a letter from the Emergency Planning Committee, the flood protection in place is unable to cope with such an unprecedented disaster of biblical proportions and the island of Leros has been declared to be in a state of emergency.

Will the Commission say what funds it intends to approve and to what timetable:

Source: European Parliament

Joint answer given by Ms Creţu on behalf of the Commission

The EU Solidarity Fund may award financial assistance to Member States affected by serious natural disasters. It can only be mobilised upon application from the national authorities within 12 weeks of the occurrence of the disaster. Moreover, the Fund may intervene if total direct damage exceeds 0.6% of gross national income at national level (for Greece currently EUR 1.091 billion). For smaller, regional disasters, the threshold is 1.5% of regional GDP. The threshold for the North Aegean region of which Limnos is a part is EUR 45.1 million. Leros belongs to the South Aegean region with a threshold of EUR 106.1 million. Should Greece submit an application in time and the damage exceed the threshold the Solidarity Fund could contribute, among other things, towards the cost of the rescue services, the reconstruction of essential infrastructure, assistance to the population and the protection of the cultural heritage. The reconstruction of cultural heritage assets, the compensation of private losses and preventive measures are however not eligible.

As regards the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for 2014-2020 period, the Greek authorities have allocated resources for small-scale cultural interventions, under the thematic objective ‘Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management’ of the regional programme of ‘North Aegean’. Climate change and risk prevention measures, including the anti-flood ones are provided by both the regional programmes and the national programme ‘Transport, Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development’. Interventions supported by the ESIF should be in line with the national planning for adaptation to climate change and prevention and management of risks.

Source: European Parliament