EU Pledges €10 Billion for Flood Recovery

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €10 billion aid package for Central European countries affected by severe flooding, which has claimed at least 24 lives across the region. The funding, sourced from the EU Cohesion Fund, will be allocated without requiring co-financing from member states, allowing for rapid deployment. This decision came during a meeting in Wroclaw, Poland, where leaders from Poland, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic gathered to address the crisis. Von der Leyen emphasized the need for extraordinary measures in light of the extensive damage and infrastructure destruction, assuring ongoing EU support for recovery efforts. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has declared a state of natural disaster and pledged additional funds for rescue and reconstruction. The flooding has not only caused immediate devastation but also raised concerns about long-term economic impacts in the affected countries.