Brussels, Belgium. Cyprus moved closer on Tuesday to accessing more than €9 million from the European Union solidarity fund after the European Parliament’s budgets committee unanimously approved the disbursement. The funding is intended to support the rebuilding of infrastructure destroyed by last year’s wildfire in the Limassol district, which killed two people.
Committee approves disaster funding
The committee approved a total of €144.1 million for three EU member states to rebuild infrastructure following natural disasters last year.
Spain is set to receive €120.55 million following several major wildfire outbreaks last year. The committee said the most destructive fires broke out in August, forcing mass evacuations and causing eight deaths.
Romania was allocated €14.34 million after severe flooding in May and June last year. The committee said critical infrastructure, including the Praid salt mine, was extensively damaged, while widespread power outages were also recorded.
Allocation for Cyprus
For Cyprus, the committee approved €9.21 million, stating that thousands of people were displaced by last summer’s wildfire. It also said more than 900 private properties were destroyed and that education and healthcare services were disrupted.
With the committee’s unanimous approval secured, the matter will now go to a plenary session of the European Parliament. The vote is expected to take place next month.
Additional support for farmers
The committee’s approval came after EU member states on Monday approved €4.6 million from the European Commission’s agricultural reserve to support farmers in Cyprus affected by last summer’s wildfires and drought.
The commission said Cyprus experienced prolonged drought and extreme heat from May last year, leading to major crop production losses and higher livestock feed costs.
People and businesses in Cyprus involved in farming citrus fruits, bananas, figs, pomegranates, prickly pears, olive oil and olives, cereals, fodder crops, bees, livestock, and vineyards will be eligible for the funding.
In addition to Cyprus, member states also approved €30 million for Portugal, €14.8 million for Romania, €4.4 million for Croatia, and €2.8 million for Slovenia for farmers affected by significant damage from adverse climatic events.
