Commissioner Lenarčič pledges further support from EU in wake of floods
Ljubno ob Savinji, 16 September - European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič visited the flood-hit Savinja Valley on Saturday, pledging the EU's solidarity in the reconstruction, as relief efforts are now winding down. In Rečica ob Savinji, he visited the EU's crisis management units stationed in the town.
Rečica ob Savinji
European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič (centre) visits EU crisis management units stationed in Rečica ob Savinji.
Photo: Lili Pušnik/STA
Rečica ob Savinji
European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič (centre) visits EU crisis management units stationed in Rečica ob Savinji.
Photo: Lili Pušnik/STA
Rečica ob Savinji
European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič visits EU crisis management units stationed in Rečica ob Savinji.
Photo: Lili Pušnik/STA
Rečica ob Savinji
European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič (left) visits EU crisis management units stationed in Rečica ob Savinji.
Photo: Lili Pušnik/STA
Rečica ob Savinji
European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič visits EU crisis management units stationed in Rečica ob Savinji.
Photo: Lili Pušnik/STA
Rečica ob Savinji
European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič (centre) visits EU crisis management units stationed in Rečica ob Savinji.
Photo: Lili Pušnik/STA
Slovenia enjoyed great solidarity from other EU members during flood relief efforts, he noted, adding that aid continues to come in through the EU's civil protection system. Ten temporary bridges have been installed, four more are coming: three from Sweden and one from Italy, he said.
The commissioner, who comes from Slovenia, said that the country can take pride in its civil protection and relief system.
The Civil Protection and Disaster relief Administration quickly set up a base camp in Rečica ob Savinji, which allowed international teams to work effectively and enabled the distribution of aid sent to Slovenia immediately via the EU civil protection mechanism by ten countries, Lenarčič said.
Now, reconstruction is beginning and this stage will be long and demanding, said the commissioner, underlining that Slovenia can still count on the EU's solidarity.
He noted that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Slovenia only days after the floods, promising EUR 400 million in solidarity funds in 2023 and 2024. He reiterated that deadlines are short and there was no time to waste.
Lenarčič said that Slovenia could also apply for funds from the EU crisis reserve for agriculture, and encouraged the drawing of funds from the cohesion fund and the recovery and resilience mechanism.