EU ready to financially support flood-stricken Slovenia

By Nur Asena Erturk

The European Union is ready to financially support Slovenia’s recovery from major floods, a top leader of the bloc said Wednesday.

"I discussed today with the prime minister (Robert Golob) a package of three components for the immediate needs, but also in the mid- and the long-term. A lot of investment has to be done for the recovery of this country," Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission president, told a joint news conference after visiting Slovenia.

The package includes a solidarity fund of €400 million ($439.1 million), including €100 million ($109.7 million) for this year and the rest for the next year, she said.

"We need the request of Slovenia and the first damage assessment so that we can start with the disbursement," she explained.

Von der Leyen added that the package also includes the NextGenEU program, where Slovenia still has €2.7 billion left, if it requests it by the end of the month.

"There's the third element, this is existing money, already programmed money that can be reprogrammed. These are €3.3 billion of cohesion funds, and this lasts until 2027," she noted.

Severe weekend flooding since last week has affected two-thirds of Slovenia, killing at least six people and leaving hundreds homeless.

Slovenia has been a member of the EU since 2004.