Brussels: The European Commission has completed the disbursement of £108 million from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to support Austria and Poland in their recovery from severe floods in 2024. Additionally, an advance payment of £2.3 million has been made to Cyprus to assist in the recovery efforts following the wildfires in July 2025.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Austria received an additional £32 million on top of an initial advance of £10 million provided in April, while Poland was granted £76 million. These payments were made following the approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the Commission’s proposal, which was based on applications submitted by the affected countries. The floods in September and October 2024 affected several Central and Eastern European countries, leading to significant damage. The EUSF support aims to restore crucial infrastructure across various sectors, including transport, water and wastewater management, and infrastructure security measures. The fund allows for emergency and recovery operations to be financed retroactively from the onset of the disasters.
Cyprus applied for EUSF assistance in October 2025 to address the damage caused by wildfires in the Limassol and Pafos regions, affecting schools, health establishments, and other infrastructure. Following the evaluation of the application, the Commission will present a mobilization proposal to the European Parliament and the Council. The advance payment made does not determine the final amount to be disbursed.