European Parliament approves 10.5M euro aid for Bulgaria after 2014 floods
Bulgaria is set for more than 10.5 million euro in aid from the European Solidarity Fund to assist the country overcome the aftermath of disastrous flooding in summer 2014, following a European Parliament vote on December 17.
The aid was recommended by the European Commission in October and later approved by the European Council. EU rules on granting money from the European Solidarity Fund require both the European Council and European Parliament to agree.
Heavy rain hit Bulgaria in June 2014, flooding the country with precipitation up to four times the monthly climatic norm.
In Bulgaria, about 311 million euro in damage was reported, above the threshold for assistance from the fund.
Flooding on June 19 2014 significantly affected the Eastern, North-Eastern and Central parts of the Bulgaria.
The regions of Varna, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Veliko Turnovo, Bourgas, Montana, Kyustendil, Plovdiv, Haskovo, Yambol and the Sofia-region suffered most.
In the coastal municipality of Asparuhovo (Varna) heavy rainfall and a tidal wave destroyed houses and farms, flooded buildings and streets and destroyed cars.
Electricity and communication networks throughout the region were disrupted.
Fifteen casualties were reported, while hundreds had to be evacuated and temporarily housed.
There was damage to the public infrastructure and facilities in the areas of energy, water and water resources, telecommunications, transport, health, education, emergency services, cultural heritage and protected natural areas, the European Commission noted.
The European Parliament votes on December 17 saw approval of seven applications for a total of 126.7 million euro in EU aid to help Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria cope with the aftermath of natural disasters in 2013 and 2014.
