3rd September 2007 - Leading campaign to speed up flood cash

Yorkshire MEPs Richard Corbett and Linda McAvan are leading the campaign today in the European Parliament to ensure affected areas are quickly compensated for this summer’s floods.

The British government has submitted an application to the European Commission for support from the European Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help to recover from the recent flooding. The provisional assessment of damage caused by the June and July floods lies at over £2.7bn.

Labour MEP Richard Corbett, who will raise the extensive damage caused by the floods today in the European Parliament, stated:

“Large parts of Yorkshire and the Humber suffered as a result of the flooding this summer. Homeowners and businesses quite understandably want to know what their elected representatives can do to help, and there is a real need to release money quickly to those affected."

Fellow MEP Linda McAvan, who represents Labour MEPs on the Temporary Committee on Climate Change, in the European Parliament, said:

“Millions of people have been affected by natural disasters across Europe this summer. Scientists are forecasting more unpredictable and more extreme climate events in coming years across our continent. We need to act now to make sure help gets to those who need it in the short term, and to reduce the occurrence of future such disasters in the longer term, the EU should put tackling climate change at the top of its agenda.”