Sardinia will be able to count on new European resources to address the damage caused by Cyclone Harry and the severe weather last January. The European Parliament's Budget Committee unanimously approved the disbursement of the European Union Solidarity Fund to Italy, with a total allocation of €74.9 million for Sardinia and Sicily.
The resources will be used primarily to restore essential infrastructure and strategic facilities, with interventions in the energy, water management, telecommunications, transportation, healthcare, and education sectors. The distribution of the funds between the two islands will be determined by the national government.
Giuseppe Lupo, MEP for the Democratic Party, vice-president of the Budget Committee and rapporteur for the measure for the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, underlined the importance of the measure.
"The European Union Solidarity Fund demonstrates concretely that Europe does not abandon communities affected by disasters," said Lupo, highlighting the European instrument's role in supporting areas affected by extreme events.
"It is a fundamental tool capable of translating European support into concrete aid for the regions and citizens facing the consequences of devastating events. Europe intervenes in a subsidiary manner, with funds in addition to those allocated by the regions and the national government," he added.
The approval represents an important step in accelerating reconstruction, securing damaged infrastructure, and restoring essential public services in the areas most affected by the storm. For Sardinia, the goal is to support the return to full functionality of strategic facilities and support communities in their post-emergency recovery.
