A committee of the European Parliament has approved €9.21 million in assistance for Cyprus from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help address the aftermath of the 2025 wildfires.
Brussels Mobilizes €144.1 Million For Three Member States
Members of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee (BUDG) backed the mobilization of a total of €144.1 million from the EU Solidarity Fund for Cyprus, Romania and Spain following major natural disasters in 2025.
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Under the proposal, Cyprus is set to receive €9.21 million for wildfire-related damage, while Romania would receive €14.34 million for flooding and Spain €120.55 million for wildfires.
Unanimous Committee Support
Support for the proposal was unanimous, with 31 votes in favour and no votes against or abstentions.
Earlier assistance had already been provided through advance payments, including €2.3 million for Cyprus and €30 million for Spain to address immediate recovery needs. Final allocations were calculated by the European Commission based on the reported scale of damage and the fund’s eligibility criteria.
Cyprus Bears The Heavy Cost Of July Fires
Two major wildfires that broke out in Cyprus in July 2025 affected areas in the districts of Limassol and Paphos, according to the European Parliament. Loss of life, displacement of residents and extensive property damage were among the consequences of the fires, which destroyed nearly 900 private properties and disrupted education and health services in affected communities.
Elsewhere, Romania’s allocation relates to severe flooding that occurred in May and June 2025, including damage linked to the Praid salt mine. Funding for Spain is tied to large-scale wildfires driven by prolonged drought and extreme temperatures that forced thousands of people to evacuate.
Lawmakers Call For More Prevention And Resilience
Alongside the funding approval, MEPs highlighted the growing frequency of major natural disasters across Europe and called for greater investment in prevention, preparedness and climate adaptation measures.
According to the draft report, strengthening resilience could help reduce both the human and economic impact of future disasters. Approval by the European Parliament plenary and the Council of the European Union is still required before the funding can be disbursed. A plenary vote is expected in July, after which the approved assistance would be released in a single payment.
A Fund Built For Crisis Response
Since its creation in 2002, the EU Solidarity Fund has allocated more than €10 billion in support following 147 disaster events across EU member states and candidate countries.
Polish MEP Bogdan Rzońca of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) serves as rapporteur for the report, while DISY MEP Michalis Hadjipantela is the European People’s Party’s shadow rapporteur.
