Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus is set to receive €9.2 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund under a €144 million aid package proposed by the European Commission for three member states hit by climate-related disasters in 2025.
Cyprus wildfires and planned use of funds
The European Commission said the funding for Cyprus relates to two wildfires in July 2025 that primarily affected the Limassol and Paphos districts. It said residents were forced to flee their homes, two people died, nearly 900 private homes were destroyed, and schools and healthcare facilities scaled back services.
The funds are intended to support the restoration of energy, water, wastewater, telecommunications and transport infrastructure. Cyprus has already received a €2.3 million advance payment.
Spain and Romania allocations
Spain is set to receive €120.4 million after prolonged drought, heatwaves and three major wildfires in 2025, according to the commission. The most destructive fire, which broke out on August 8, claimed eight lives and forced mass evacuations. The funding includes an advance payment of more than €30 million and will cover infrastructure repairs, temporary accommodation and emergency rescue services.
Romania is due to receive €14.3 million following severe flooding in May and June 2025, which affected the centre, south Muntenia and north-east regions. The commission said particularly serious damage was reported at the Praid salt mine, where floodwaters eroded part of the Corund riverbed, damaging hydraulic infrastructure and causing widespread power outages.
Approval process and Solidarity Fund background
The proposed funding must still be approved by the European Parliament and the council before being disbursed as lump-sum payments to each member state.
European Commission executive vice-president for cohesion and reforms Raffaele Fitto said 2025 was marked by the worst wildfires ever recorded, affecting among others Cyprus and Spain, and that floods in Romania caused damage that will take years to repair. He said the commission was proposing the mobilisation of €144 million.
The EU Solidarity Fund was established in 2002 and has since allocated more than €10 billion for 147 disasters, including 127 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies, across 25 member states and six candidate countries.
What should the EU Solidarity Fund prioritise when allocating support after climate-related disasters?