Romania's Plan to Tackle Flooding: A Closer Look

Romania is making a significant move to tackle flooding. They're establishing a dedicated fund to finance crucial projects. This fund will operate for at least five years, as part of an agreement with the European Union to secure recovery funds.

The Impact of Recent Floods

Floods have been devastating in Romania recently. In 2024 and this year alone, floods have claimed 10 lives, destroyed homes, and damaged infrastructure. The country urgently needs to repair dams, construct bridges, and fortify defenses. A World Bank study estimates that Romania requires between 10 billion and 40 billion euros for these efforts.

Financial Constraints and Solutions

However, the government cannot afford all the necessary expenses at once due to a substantial budget deficit. The environment minister emphasized that the fund will prioritize high-risk areas to protect communities and save lives.

Funding Mechanism

The fund will be supported by water management fees and taxes. The government will determine the exact amount of funding. The environment ministry missed out on 2 billion euros from the EU due to delays in project completion.

Reforms and Future Plans

The new minister is spearheading reforms in forestry and water management to meet EU targets and secure the remaining funds. Some of the lost money will be covered by the state budget.