Over €18 million in European Solidarity Fund (ESF) aid to help repair flood damage in Italy's Tuscany and Liguria regions was approved by the European Parliament in a vote on Tuesday.
The aid, totalling €18,061,682, is to be used to repair extensive damage caused by the October 2011 floods to businesses, homes and infrastructure. The resolution was drafted by José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, Portugal), and approved with 658 votes in favour, 7 against and 16 abstentions.
Italy applied to the ESF for help in October 2011. The Italian authorities estimated the total direct cost of the damage at €772.5 million.
This is the first ESF aid mobilisation to be approved in 2012
The ESF was set up in November 2002 to help victims of natural disasters in regions in need of financial support. It has an annual ceiling of €1 billion.
Procedure: Budgetary
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