Croatia gets EU help for flood damages

European Union funds will cover some of the damages caused by floods that devastated parts of Croatia in May.The areas of Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem were affected by the extreme weather that hit Croatia earlier this year. The damages were estimated at 15.4 million Euros.Croatia claimed the maximum compensation it was allowed under EU regulations - 11,461,685 Euros damages. The country filed its claim at the same time as Hungary, which was also affected by the same natural disaster. The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) will give money to both countries.In order to get help from EUSF, a member sate can report direct damages caused by natural disasters that are over three billion Euros or 0.6 per cent of net national revenues. If the damages are lower, they can report them together with another member or an acceding state.Minister of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management Bozidar Pankretic said that this is the first time that Croatia will receive something to which EU member states are entitled.The payments are expected to be received in March or April of 2011, the daily Vecernji List writes.Together with Slovenia, Croatia made another claim on November 25 on behalf of six Croatian counties (Zagreb, Zagreb City, Krapina-Zagorje, Sisak-Moslavina, Varazdin, Koprivnica-Krizevci, and Istria) which were damaged by September floods.The damages reported amounted to 28,647,292 Euros or about 60 per cent of the 11.88 per cent of revenues of those counties. European Commission approval of the report is pending. 

Source: Croatian Times Online News