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 airport in Bologna, Von der Leyen moved 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 banks of the river in the San Rocco area: a river that last week flooded several houses, where many young volunteers have worked in recent days to clean the mud. Then she headed to Piazza del Popolo for a meeting with the mayor Enzo Lattuca and the citizens.
ANSA Agency
Flood, von der Leyen meets volunteers in Cesena: 'Tin bota' - Chronicle
"We will give everything we can, I am excited and shocked," says the EU president. Then help a child get out of the mud. The square sings for her 'Romagna mia' (ANSA)
"Thank you to the president who wanted to come to Emilia to realize the situation that the region and the whole nation is facing." This was said by Prime Minister 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 in the first days in Japan: she immediately showed her solidarity. I also want to thank the other heads of state who have offered their availability".
Heart-breaking to see the devastation caused by the floods in the beautiful region of Emilia Romagna.
I have come here to tell you that Europe is mourning with you.
And that we are by your side. https://t.co/mkLbvxHOvj
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 25, 2023
"The support of the Union can be very important at this stage: in the coming weeks, having made the overall estimate of the flood damage, we will request the activation of the money fund, which unfortunately Italy has already had to access other times". This was stated 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. "I think it was important that von der Leyen saw with her own eyes the extent of the problem and the multifaceted problems because we will need special attention on this region, on the other funds, from the cohesion funds onwards, I think of the agricultural issue". This was stated 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 the thing that struck me the most" was to see the reaction of the people: "you will find a very proud people who have already rolled up their sleeves and do not resign and this puts all of us in the need to do our best for them". This was stated 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 subject of the commissioner I am struck that this is the issue that is close to your heart while there are still funerals of people. My main problem is not who spends the money but finding it," she said. "I apologize for not being able to accompany you in this second phase of your visit" in the affected areas after the inspection from above, "you will be accompanied by Fitto, Bonaccini is there and I thank him for his presence and attention, we are working well". This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaking at a 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 hosting me. It was hard, it broke my heart to see the mud, these deep scars left by the avalanches. It's important to have a view of the devastation from the other side." This was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Bologna, after flying over the flooded areas with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the governor of Emilia Romagna 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 with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the governor of Emilia Romagna Stefano Bonaccini. There is "a structured approach" to the emergency. this was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen at the press conference in Bologna together with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. "The Cohesion Fund can be used - he observed in another passage. 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, many people have come here to make them work. It is a very good example of European solidarity. And I was impressed by the hundreds of volunteers, what you call the mud 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, together we are working very well. And I am very pleased with President von Der Leyen's reassurance that Europe is close to our region and that resources and the European Solidarity Fund are activated: her presence here today is another important signal for Emilia-Romagna, the communities and people affected by this terrible flood. Together, I repeat, we will get back on our feet." This was stated at the end of Meloni and Von der Leyen's visit to the flooded areas of Emilia-Romagna, by the President of the Region Stefano Bonaccini.
The President of the European Commission landed at Bologna airport first. A few minutes later, the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the Minister for European Affairs, Raffaele Fitto, also landed on a flight from Ciampino. To welcome them Stefano Bonaccini, the prefect of Bologna, Attilio Visconti, and the head of Civil Protection, Fabrizio Curcio. The delegation immediately flew for an aerial reconnaissance - in an Air Force helicopter - of the areas of Emilia-Romagna affected by floods, landslides and landslides.
42% of the utilised agricultural area (UAA) in the region was affected by floods. An initial survey of the situation presents a worrying picture with regard to the socio-economic fabric linked to agriculture and agri-food in Emilia-Romagna. The farms present in the territory involved are almost 21 thousand, 49% of the entire region, over 29% is present in municipalities with flooding and 19% in those with landslides. The employees in agriculture, hunting and fishing operating in municipalities affected by at least one event are over 41 thousand and represent 55% of the employees in the sector in the entire region. They are mainly employed in agricultural crops and animal production, active in areas affected by flooding.
