IP/05/671
Brussels, 6 June 2005
Slovak storms – new aid on the
table
Slovakia is to receive help from the EU’s Solidarity Fund for
severe storm damage suffered in November 2004, when bad weather wreaked havoc in
the country. Following a Slovak request for such funding in January 2005, the
Commission has proposed €5.67 million to help with the costs of
reconstruction.
On 24 January 2005 the Commission received an application to mobilise the EU
Solidarity Fund relating to a wind storm that struck Slovakia on 19/20 November
2004. The Commission has thoroughly examined the application and determined that
it meets the “major disaster” criterion for using the Fund.
The storm killed two people, and hit around 28% of the total area in the
affected regions (Banská, Bystrica, Košice, Prešov, Žilina)
with a population of almost three million inhabitants. It damaged infrastructure
and severely affected forests. From satellite imagery and aerial photography,
the Commission services estimated that the storm had damaged an area of slightly
more than 20 000 ha, with the brunt of the destruction borne by forests
within the Tatra national park.
Damage to forests is estimated at a maximum €195 million- This amount
is above the threshold of 0.6% of Slovakia’s Gross National Income/GNI
(€172 million), so the event qualifies as a major natural disaster
according to the law. Total cost of emergency operations has been estimated at
almost €28 million.
Structural funding is separately to be re-allocated for the rehabilitation of
tourist facilities and the development of the affected areas. Measures are also
foreseen here for the procurement and utilisation of equipment for biomass
processing (e.g. for use in energy generation).
Background
To qualify for Solidarity Fund aid, countries hit by a major disaster must
provide an estimate of the damage and meet specific criteria, ensuring that EU
funds are used to meet the most urgent needs. A "major disaster" is an event
causing damage estimated at over € 3 billion or more than 0.6% of the GNI
of the state concerned.
The total annual budget still available for the Solidarity Fund is
€1 billion. None has been used so far in 2005.
To cover the commitments of the proposed €5.67 million from the
Solidarity Fund, payments will be made available by a transfer from other areas
of the budget, which the Commission will propose to the budgetary authority.
Financial assistance from the Structural Fund is to be reallocated within the
Sectoral Operational Programme (SOP) Industry and Services. The Commission
adopted on 6 April a proposal for the new and improved EU Solidarity Fund, with
an enlarged scope, including major crises resulting from natural disasters - as
before - but also industrial/technological disasters, public health emergencies
and acts of terrorism. In Commission’s proposal, the threshold for
eligibility is lowered, thus increasing the possibility for regions to
qualify for the assistance from the Fund.
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/g24217.htm
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