EU offers over $2.8B support for disaster-hit Greece

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed over €2.6 billion ($2.8 billion) support for Greece’s recovery after a series of natural disasters hit the country over the summer.

Von der Leyen reassured Greece of the EU’s solidarity, as she spoke at a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis following their meeting in Strasbourg, France.

She said the EU’s aid will come “not only in this acute moment but also to rebuild and reconstruct” after “a vast area has been destroyed by the wildfires and floods have devastated large regions.”

Von der Leyen revealed the EU Commission’s emergency response plan that would “allow Greece to mobilize up to €2.25 billion” by reallocating EU funds, including EU’s agricultural and regional development subsidies.

The EU Commission also backs Greece’s request for a further €400 million from the EU solidarity fund that EU member states have yet to approve to top up the existing budget of the bloc’s disaster support.

At least 15 people lost their lives, 5,000 were evacuated, and over 73,000 hectares of agricultural land was flooded in Greece’s Thessaly province as Storm Daniel hit the country with heavy rainfall last week.

August’s forest blaze in Greece was declared to be the largest wildfire ever recorded in the EU.