05/23/2023 03:54 pm (Act. 05/23/2023 03:54 pm)
Cleanup work after storms in Ancona ©APA/AFP
The Italian government launched an initial support package for the flood-ravaged Adriatic region of Emilia Romagna on Tuesday. The package of measures comprises two billion euros, announced Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a press conference. The suspension of tax payments for companies is also scheduled until August 31. Last week’s severe storms killed 14 people.
€300 million is earmarked to support self-employed workers who have lost their jobs due to the floods. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making €700 million available to support companies that export abroad affected by the floods. 100 million euros are earmarked for compensation to agricultural companies and another 75 million euros are earmarked for the acquisition of new agricultural machinery.
Italy wants to apply for access to the EU disaster fund. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will visit the provinces affected by the storm on Thursday, said the president of the Emilia Romagna region, Stefano Bonaccini. The plan is to increase entry prices to museums by one euro. “The funds will be used for the restoration of affected cultural assets in Emilia Romagna,” said Meloni.
Bonaccini explained that once the state of emergency ends, another aid package is needed to rebuild the region. “We need action to put back into operation a region that is the first in terms of per capita exports. The damage is billions: there were 300 landslides, entire forests were affected, we have the problem of rivers, roads and infrastructure” , complained Bonaccini.
“The damage we have seen on the roads in the areas affected by landslides is something we have not seen since the Second World War”, underlined the mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, on the sidelines of the press conference to present the 40th edition of the fair of ceramics Cersaie, which will take place in Bologna from September 25th to 29th.
Meanwhile, climate activists from the “Ultima Generazione” (Last Generation) group threw mud over themselves in front of the Senate seat in Rome, drawing attention to flooding in Italy as a result of climate change. “That’s Emilia mud!” shouted one of two women who poured brown liquid from large plastic bottles over their bare heads and chests in front of the Senate entrance. In addition to the two women with the clay cans, other members of the group threw water on the facade of the Senate. The activists were taken away by police.