The mobilization of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide financial assistance to Cyprus, Romania, and Spain following the natural disasters that struck the three countries in 2025, was endorsed by the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets.
The release of a total of 144.1 million euros was approved unanimously with 31 votes in favor during Tuesday’s session. The funds are intended to address the consequences of floods and wildfires that caused extensive damage in the affected areas.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Over 9 million euros for Cyprus
According to the proposal, Romania is expected to receive 14.34 million euros to repair flood damage, Cyprus 9.21 million for the devastating wildfires this summer, and Spain 120.55 million euros for the widespread wildfires that occurred throughout the year.
Cyprus and Spain have already received advance financial assistance to cover initial recovery needs. Specifically, €2.3 million was disbursed to Cyprus, while Spain received €30 million.
The European Commission calculated these amounts based on the damages reported by each country’s national authorities, assessing the data in accordance with the Solidarity Fund’s operating rules and available resources.
The Devastating Wildfires in Limassol and Paphos
In Cyprus, two major wildfires that broke out in July 2025 struck areas in the districts of Limassol and Paphos, causing severe damage.
Thousands of residents were displaced by the fires, and two people lost their lives. At the same time, nearly 900 private properties were destroyed, and the operation of essential services, such as education and healthcare, was disrupted.
Floods in Romania and Fires in Spain
Romania faced severe flooding in May and June 2025, following prolonged and heavy rainfall. The disasters affected many regions of the country, with particularly significant damage reported at the Praid salt mine, where floodwaters endangered critical infrastructure and caused widespread power outages.
During the same period, Spain faced a prolonged drought, extreme heat waves, and a series of major wildfires. The most devastating fires broke out in August 2025, leading to mass evacuations and claiming the lives of eight people.
Call for Investment in Adaptation to the Climate Crisis
In their draft report, MEPs emphasize that severe natural disasters in Europe are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity, causing significant human and economic losses.
At the same time, they call on Member States and the European Commission to increase investment in prevention and adaptation measures, with the aim of better protecting citizens and infrastructure from the impacts of the climate crisis.
Over 10 billion euros since 2002
The European Union Solidarity Fund was established in 2002 and has so far allocated more than 10 billion euros to address 147 crises, of which 127 involved natural disasters and 20 were public health emergencies.
According to the data accompanying the report, the 2025 wildfire season was recorded as the most devastating in the mechanism’s history.
The final mobilization of the Fund requires the approval of both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The vote in the European Parliament’s plenary session is expected to take place in July 2026, and once the process is complete, the funds will be disbursed in a single payment to the countries concerned.
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