Germany’s Scholz offers support to neighbours affected by flooding

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has offered support to European partners through the EU's emergency mechanism in response to severe flooding in central and eastern Europe but said no requests for assistance had yet been registered.

Over the past few days, torrential rains have severely impacted central and eastern European countries, including Poland, Czechia, and Austria.

“The floods we are seeing are depressing. I have already expressed my solidarity with the neighbouring countries that have been affected and announced our support for the citizens affected,” Scholz (SPD/S&D) told journalists during his visit to the Kazakh capital, Astana. “We will help as much as we can,” he added.

A spokesperson of the German government clarified at midday on Monday that the affected countries had not yet requested help through the EU's civil protection mechanism, which would be necessary.

But Germany's disaster relief agency THW, the armed forces and the police were ready to help at any time, she told journalists in Berlin.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk (PO/EPP) announced earlier that his government would "apply for European aid" but did not clarify whether the emergency mechanism would be activated. His government has pledged €240 million for flood victims.

Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP/EPP) said Vienna would provide €300 million from its natural disaster fund.

The east and south of Germany could also be at risk of flooding in the coming days, but officials said on Monday they did not expect the situation to reach the highest threat level.

(Nick Alipour | Euractiv.de)