“I am here to bring you a very clear message: ‘Tin bota’, Europe is with you”. Clear words. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thus expressed the EU’s solidarity with Emilia-Romagna. “I was very impressed with the solidarity I could see: it is the best example of EU solidarity. And I was also moved by the ‘mud angels’ who are making their contribution”, underlined von der Leyen. In the afternoon, he flew by helicopter over the flood-affected areas with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, before departing again for Cesena, one of Romagna’s most devastated cities, with Governor Stefano Bonaccini, Minister of European Affairs Raffaele Fitto and head of Civil Protection, Fabrizio Curcio. For his part, the Prime Minister, at a press point organized at Bologna airport before returning to Rome for the Council of Ministers again convened on the bad weather emergency, addressed von der Leyen with these words: “Here you will find a very proud people, who have already rolled up their sleeves, who are already working to rebuild, who have not given up and do not give in. Then, an appeal: “The presence of President von der Leyen is more than a formal sign of availability , is concrete. Obviously, we’ll need to keep an eye on this region.”
Therefore, the topic of resources takes center stage. The first decree approved by the government last Tuesday, after a first visit by the tenant of Palazzo Chigi between the Forlivese and Ravenna areas on Sunday, foresees an endowment of 2.2 billion. But much more funds will be needed to handle phase two as well. “Once we have managed to make a global estimate of the damage caused by the flood – Meloni underlined – we will also request the activation of the European Solidarity Fund” designed precisely for natural disasters like the one that hit this region. According to the prime minister, it will be necessary to “bring out other significant resources that will be used to return to normal here”. he got up, he knew that “it is urgent to launch the Solidarity Fund. After the damage assessment we will have a clearer idea of how many resources can be allocated and this will happen in the next three months. In the future we will be able to give you a clearer idea” In any case, “six billion euros are allocated to Next Generation EU precisely for the prevention of events like this and for the consolidation of infrastructures. We will adopt a step-by-step approach and work well together.”
Then there is the crux of the reconstruction commissioner, with the controversies raised within most of the government around Bonaccini’s name. “I am frankly very impressed that this is the debate you are interested in while people are still celebrating their funerals. We are concerned with doing our best and finding the resources. Today my problem is not who spends the money, it is finding them” , the prime minister’s clear response to reporters. After clarifying that, in any case, with Bonaccini “we are working very well in these hours”, Meloni returned to Rome for the second meeting of the Council of Ministers within three days, which extended the state of emergency already decreed for the municipalities of Emilia -Romagna to the Marches (Pesaro, Urbino, Fano, Gabicce Mare, Monte Grimano Terme, Montelabbate and Sassocorvaro) and Tuscany (Firenzuola, Marradi, Palazzuolo sul Serio and Londa nel Fiorentino) affected by floods in recent days. first aid interventions to the population, a total of 8 million euros were allocated, 4 million for each of the two Regions, from the Fund for National Emergencies.
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
