Question for written answer E-005157/2020 to the Commission Rule 138 Kostas Papadakis (NI)

Subject: Flooding in Karditsa and other areas causes colossal damage

Flooding, coupled with poor flood defences, has left three dead, one missing and caused incalculable damage to property in Thessalia. Karditsa in particular has been covered in mud and stones as rivers have burst their banks. There has also been widespread damage to roads, problems with the electricity and water supply and some villages remain cut off. The Mouzakiou Health Centre, Karditsa Hospital and the Municipal Library, where more than 3000 paintings lie covered in mud, have all been affected. Rural and livestock infrastructure has also been hit hard. The disaster has greatly affected thousands of people elsewhere in Thessalia (in Farsala, Almyros and in villages in the municipality of Farkadona) and in the rest of Greece, including Phthiotis, Aetolia-Acarnania and Eptanisa (Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada and Ithaki).

The disaster has unfortunately revealed the inadequate flood defences and infrastructure in place as a result of the outdated policies of successive Greek governments and the EU.

How does the Commission view the demands to:

1. Use the EU Solidarity Fund to fully compensate low-income households and self-employed people in these areas, without having to meet its unfavourable terms and conditions?

2. Fully compensate farmers for the destruction the floods have caused to their produce and livestock?

3. Immediately improve anti-flood defences both in the affected areas and in areas affected by fire, as well as in forests in mountainous areas?

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