European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a staggering €10 billion ($11 billion) in emergency funds for affected member nations. The pledge comes as the death toll from the catastrophic weather event climbs to 24, with some areas still grappling with rising waters.
Standing amid the wreckage in Wroclaw, Poland, von der Leyen addressed reporters, her voice tinged with emotion. “It was for me on the one hand heartbreaking to see the destruction and the devastation through the floods,” she said, surveying the damage. But I must also say it was on the other hand heartwarming to see the enormous solidarity between the people in your countries.
The EU chief’s visit to the historic city of 670,000 residents in southwest Poland underscores the gravity of the situation. Wroclaw, no stranger to flooding after a devastating event in 1997, once again finds itself at the mercy of swollen rivers.
Von der Leyen outlined two primary sources for the emergency funds:
- Cohesion funds
- The EU solidarity fund
At first sight, €10 billion are possible to mobilise from the cohesion funds for the countries that are affected. This is an emergency reaction now,” von der Leyen explained. In an unprecedented move, she added, “These are extraordinary times and extraordinary times need extraordinary measures.” The EU will provide 100% of the funding, waiving the usual co-financing requirements from member states.
The destruction wrought by Storm Boris is difficult to overstate. Polish Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak painted a grim picture: “In some places, the water literally destroyed everything. The landscape is like that after a war, rather than a flood.”
The storm’s deadly path has left a trail of sorrow across central and eastern Europe:
- Austria: 5 fatalities
- Poland: 7 fatalities
- Romania: 7 fatalities
- Czech Republic: 5 fatalities
While the floodwaters in Wroclaw reached their peak early Thursday, the danger is far from over. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk cautioned against premature relief, warning “against an atmosphere of unjustified euphoria… that the worst is behind us.”
The threat of dam failures looms if high water levels persist for several days. Meanwhile, in some areas, residents continue to lack access to basic necessities like drinking water and electricity.
Across Poland, grassroots funding initiatives have sprung up as local authorities begin to assess the staggering damage. Early estimates suggest the cost could run into hundreds of millions of euros.
The Polish government has already allocated €470 million in direct aid to affected individuals and communities. Austria, too, has stepped up, increasing its disaster relief fund to €1 billion to support flood victims.
The gravity of the situation was evident as leaders from across the region gathered in Wroclaw:
- Donald Tusk, Polish Prime Minister
- Petr Fiala, Czech Prime Minister
- Robert Fico, Slovakian Prime Minister
- Karl Nehammer, Austrian Chancellor
Notably absent were the leaders of Hungary and Romania. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban cancelled all international engagements due to the storm, despite his country being largely spared from severe impacts thus far.
As the immediate crisis response continues, the focus is already shifting to long-term recovery efforts. The EU’s €10 billion pledge will play a crucial role in rebuilding infrastructure, restoring homes, and helping communities regain their footing.
Von der Leyen emphasized the EU’s commitment: “We can help with funding to repair and reconstruct the damage.” This support will be vital as affected nations face the daunting task of rebuilding bridges, repairing roads and rail lines, and restoring power to impacted areas.
As the region begins to grapple with the aftermath of Storm Boris, questions inevitably arise about future preparedness and climate resilience. The increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events highlight the urgent need for robust disaster response plans and infrastructure improvements.
For now, however, the focus remains on immediate relief and recovery. As Ewa Powazka, a 70-year-old Wroclaw resident, expressed with cautious optimism, “There are sandbags everywhere, something we didn’t have in 1997. This time, the city began to prepare a few days ago. I hope it won’t get flooded.”
