The president of the EU Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, continued the inspection of the flooded areas. After the press conference with Prime Minister Meloni at the Bologna airport, Von der Leyen flew by helicopter to Romagna together with President Stefano Bonaccini, Minister Raffaele Fitto and the head of civil protection Fabrizio Curcio. By car he reached the riverbank in the San Rocco area: a river that overflowed its banks last week, flooding several houses, where many young volunteers have been working in recent days to clear the mud.. He then headed to Piazza del Popolo for a meeting with the mayor Enzo Lattuca and the citizens.
ANSA Agency
“We are going to give everything possible, I am excited and shocked,” says the president of the EU. He then helps a boy out of the mud. The square sings ‘Romagna mia’ (ANSA)
“Thanks to the president who wanted to come to Emila to understand the situation in the region and the entire nation”. the prime minister said Giorgia Meloni in Bologna, after flying over the flooded areas with the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Governor of Emilia Romagna Stefano Bonaccini. “I was with her the first days in Japan: she immediately showed her solidarity. I also want to thank the other heads of state who have offered to make her available ”.
Heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by flooding in the beautiful region of Emilia Romagna.
I have come here to tell you that Europe mourns with you.
And that we are by your side.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 25, 2023
“The Union’s support can be very important at this stage: in the coming weeks, once we have made a global estimate of the damage caused by the flood, we will request the activation of the solidarity fund, which unfortunately Italy has already had to agree on other occasions”. This was said by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in Bologna, after flying over the flooded areas with the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Governor of Emilia Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini. “I think it was important that von der Leyen saw with his own eyes the scope of the problem and the multifaceted problems because we will need to keep an eye on this region, in the other funds, from the cohesion funds, I am thinking about the agricultural issue”. This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Bologna, after flying over the flooded areas with the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the governor of Emilia Romagna Stefano Bonaccini. “When I came, what struck me the most” was to see the reaction of the people: “You will find very proud people that he has already rolled up his sleeves and is not giving up and this puts us all in the need to do the best for them”. This was said by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Bologna, addressing the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Governor of Emilia Romagna Stefano Bonaccini. “On the issue of the commissioner, it strikes me that this is the issue that remains close to his heart while there are still people’s funerals. My main problem is not who spends the money, but finding it,” the prime minister said. “I apologize for not being able to accompany you in this second phase of your visit” to the affected areas after the inspection from above. “She will be accompanied by Fitto, there is Bonaccini and I thank her for her presence and attention, we are working well.” This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni when speaking at the press conference in Bologna with the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen.
Emilia-Romagna, von der Leyen to Italy: ‘Europe is with you’
“Thank you for having me. It was hard, it broke my heart to see the mud, these deep scars left by the avalanches. It’s important to have this vision of the devastation on the other side.” This was stated by the President of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen in Bolognaafter flying over the flooded areas with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Emilia Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini. “I am here to send a very clear message: Europe is with you”. This was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Bologna, after flying over the flooded areas together with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Governor of Emilia Romagna Stefano Bonaccini. There is “a structured approach” to the emergency. said the president of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen at the press conference in Bologna together with the prime minister Giorgia Meloni. “It can be used – she noted in another passage – the cohesion fund. If we look at the Next Generation EU plan, there are 6 billion for prevention, there is a structural approach and all these and other resources that we can draw on.” “The civil protection mechanism has been activated, some member states have already offered help, water pumps have arrived from Slovakia and Belgium, a lot of people have come here to make them work. It is an excellent example of European solidarity. And I was impressed by the hundreds of volunteers, what you call the clay angels. It was very nice to see”, said the president of the European Commission.I thank President Meloni for the second visit in a few days to Emilia-Romagna, we are working very well together. And I am very pleased with the reassurance of President Von Der Leyen about the closeness of Europe to our region and the activation of the resources and the European Solidarity Fund: her presence here today is another important signal for Emilia-Romagna, the communities and the people affected by this terrible flood. Together, I repeat, we will rise up”. This is what the president of the Region, Stefano Bonaccini, said at the end of the visit of Meloni and Von der Leyen to the flooded areas of Emilia-Romagna.
The President of the European Commission landed first at Bologna airport and, a few minutes later, the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the Minister for European Affairs, Raffaele Fitto, also landed on a flight from Ciampino. They were welcomed by Stefano Bonaccini, the Bologna prefect, Attilio Visconti, and the head of civil protection, Fabrizio Curcio. The delegation immediately left to carry out an aerial reconnaissance, in an Air Force helicopter, of the areas of Emilia-Romagna affected by floods, landslides and landslides.
42% of the Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) of the Region was affected by flood events. A first survey of the situation presents a worrying picture of the socioeconomic fabric linked to agriculture and the agri-food sector in Emilia-Romagnato. There are almost 21,000 farms present in the area involved, 49% of the entire region, more than 29% are present in municipalities with floods and 19% in those with landslides. Agriculture, hunting and fishing workers who work in municipalities affected by at least one event total more than 41,000 and represent 55% of workers in the sector throughout the region. They are mainly used in agricultural crops and animal production, active in areas affected by floods.
