The European Commission has announced an aid package worth nearly €47 million for Italy, Greece, Slovenia and Croatia after a series of natural disasters struck the regions in late 2013 and early 2014.

The proposed aid of €16.3m to Italy is in response to the serious flooding in Sardinia in November 2013, while both Slovenia and Croatia were severely affected by an ice storm in January and February 2014 and have been granted aid worth €18.4m and €8.6m respectively. €3.7m is earmarked for Greece to help cover the costs of an earthquake and several aftershocks in Kefalonia and the Ionian Islands in January-March 2014

In November 2013, Sardinia experienced extreme and intense rainfall with many rivers bursting their banks triggering floods and landslides. Serious damage was caused to residential homes, businesses and the agriculture industry, while there was severe disruption of major and local transport links and essential public infrastructure networks. Italy reported 16 casualties, over 1,700 displaced people and a missing person. Italy estimates that the repair of the road and supply network will last over 2 years.

In late January this year, some of the worst winter blizzards for decades hit Slovenia, and Croatia. In the case of Slovenia, almost half of the Alpine nation's forests had been damaged by ice (amounting to a cost of €214m), while one in four homes was left without power, with heavy snow bringing down electricity lines and trees. The Slovene authorities report severe damage to electric power facilities, public and private buildings, businesses and to the transport and road network. Due to the harsh conditions and the damage to power lines, 120 000 households were without electricity, representing over 15% of Slovenia's population

Croatia, particularly the northwest and northern Adriatic regions, experienced severe flooding, damaging basic infrastructure, and both private and public property. Main roads were impassable and the region saw widespread power and water cuts.

The total annual allocation available for the Solidarity Fund in 2014 is €530,604m – the Fund was created in the wake of the severe floods in Central Europe in the summer of 2002.

The support still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council.