**Cyprus Moves Closer to Accessing EU Solidarity Funds for Wildfire Recovery**
Cyprus has taken a significant step towards accessing over €9 million from the European Union's solidarity fund, aimed at assisting in the recovery of infrastructure devastated by a wildfire in the Limassol district last year. This development follows the unanimous approval of the funds' disbursement by the European Parliament’s budgets committee on Tuesday.
The committee's decision is part of a broader allocation of €144.1 million designated to help three EU member states recover from natural disasters that occurred last year. Spain is set to receive the majority of the funds, amounting to €120.55 million, to aid recovery from several major wildfires that resulted in mass evacuations and fatalities. The committee noted that these fires, which erupted in August, were particularly destructive, claiming the lives of eight individuals.
Romania will receive €14.34 million to address the aftermath of severe flooding that occurred in May and June of last year, which caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, including the Praid salt mine, and led to widespread power outages.
For Cyprus, the approved allocation of €9.21 million is intended to support the recovery efforts following the wildfire that resulted in the displacement of thousands and the destruction of over 900 private properties. The committee highlighted that the wildfire also disrupted essential services such as education and healthcare.
With the budgets committee's approval secured, the next step involves a vote by the plenary session of the European Parliament, which is anticipated to take place next month. This vote will be crucial in finalizing the disbursement of funds to Cyprus.
In addition to the solidarity fund, the EU member states recently approved €4.6 million from the European Commission’s agricultural reserve to support farmers in Cyprus who were affected by the wildfires and drought conditions experienced last summer. The commission reported that prolonged drought and extreme heat beginning in May led to significant losses in crop production and increased costs for livestock feed.
Eligible farmers include those involved in the cultivation of citrus fruits, bananas, figs, pomegranates, prickly pears, olives, cereals, and various livestock. The member states also allocated funds to other countries affected by adverse climatic events, including €30 million for Portugal, €14.8 million for Romania, €4.4 million for Croatia, and €2.8 million for Slovenia.
Furthermore, national governments, including Cyprus, have the option to complement the disbursement with an additional 200% of the allocated amount. This means that the Cypriot government could potentially allocate €18.42 million to support local farmers through this mechanism.
Before the funds can be distributed, the Cypriot government, along with other involved national governments, must notify the European Commission about their plans for the allocation of the funds. The commission has emphasized the need for this notification to occur promptly, detailing the criteria for granting individual aid, the expected impact of the measures, monthly payment forecasts, and any additional support to be provided.
European Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen remarked that the funding reflects the EU's solidarity with farmers and regions most affected by climate-related disasters. He underscored the importance of investing in the resilience of agriculture to safeguard food security in Europe, as climate shocks are increasingly becoming a reality for the agricultural sector.
As Cyprus prepares to navigate the next steps in accessing these vital funds, the focus remains on rebuilding and supporting those impacted by the devastating wildfire and the subsequent drought conditions. The upcoming vote in the European Parliament will be a pivotal moment in this recovery process.