site.btaEuropean Parliament Approves EUR 6.4 Mln of Disaster Aid for Bulgaria

European Parliament  Approves EUR 6.4 Mln of Disaster  Aid for Bulgaria

Brussels/Strasbourg, October 6 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - The European Parliament (EP) Tuesday approved 6,377,815 euro in EU disaster aid for Bulgaria to help repair the damage done by heavy rainfall, snow, floods and landslides in January-February 2015. The EP approved the proposed aid by 660 votes to 34, without abstentions.

The resources will be provided by the European Solidarity Fund to cover the repair of public infrastructure and damage done to private properties, particularly in Southeastern Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian authorities have estimated total direct damage caused by the disaster at 243,305 million euro, which represents 0,622 per cent of Bulgaria's GNI, reads the report of rapporteur Andrey Novakov. The financial contribution may only be used for essential emergency and recovery operations. The cost of eligible essential emergency operations has been estimated by the Bulgarian authorities at 239,225 million euro.

Upon Bulgaria's request, the European Commission paid an advance of 637 782 euro. The amount has already been used by the Bulgarian government for urgent recovery of transport infrastructure, drainage, safety and preventive infrastructure, the report reads.