In a major show of European solidarity, the European Commission has proposed €945 million in aid from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help Spain recover from the deadly “DANA floods” that struck the Valencian region in October 2024, killing more than 230 people and leaving a trail of destruction across homes, hospitals, schools, and vital infrastructure.
The proposal, unveiled in Brussels, is accompanied by the reallocation of €645 million from Spain’s cohesion policy funds under the new RESTORE mechanism, bringing total EU support to almost €1.6 billion — one of the largest post-disaster packages ever granted by the bloc.
“The devastation we witnessed almost a year ago in Valencia deeply touched Europe,” said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Today, we are committing nearly €1.6 billion from European funds to help rebuild lives and communities. In moments of hardship, Europe finds its true strength in unity.”
Europe’s Second-Largest Solidarity Fund Grant
If approved by the European Parliament and the Council, Spain’s allocation will become the second-largest in the EUSF’s history, surpassed only by the €1.2 billion granted to Italy after its 2015–2016 earthquakes.
The Commission had already paid €100 million in advance in April 2025 to jump-start recovery work in flood-hit areas. The remainder will be disbursed in a single payment once the proposal is adopted.
Funds from the EUSF will cover a wide range of emergency and reconstruction actions, from repairing damaged infrastructure and providing temporary housing to preserving cultural heritage sites and cleaning up flood-affected zones.
RESTORE Mechanism: Rebuilding and Resilience
Complementing the Solidarity Fund, the €645 million in RESTORE funds will focus on rebuilding public infrastructure such as roads, metro lines, hospitals, and schools. It will also support small and medium-sized enterprises and finance climate adaptation measures, including the restoration of damaged ecosystems.
“The DANA was a tragedy that deeply scarred communities,” said Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms. “The EU is standing by Spain not only with words but with concrete support. Cohesion policy is about helping regions recover and become more resilient against future risks.”
The RESTORE instrument, adopted in December 2024, allows EU countries to combine Solidarity Fund aid with cohesion policy money, providing up to 95% EU co-financing and 25% pre-financing for recovery operations. Payments will be made progressively as Spain implements projects.
A Climate Disaster That Shook Spain
The “DANA” – short for “Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos” (high-altitude isolated depression) – unleashed record-breaking rainfall over the Valencian region in late October 2024. Entire towns were inundated within hours, and flash floods swept through urban and rural areas alike.
Beyond the human toll, the floods crippled transport networks, destroyed public buildings, and inflicted billions in economic losses. The event has since been described as one of Spain’s worst natural disasters in decades, and a stark reminder of the growing threat of climate-related catastrophes in southern Europe.
A Record of European Solidarity
Since its creation in 2002, the EU Solidarity Fund has mobilised over €10 billion in response to 144 disaster events across 24 Member States and four candidate countries. It remains the EU’s main financial instrument for large-scale disaster recovery, complementing national efforts with targeted post-crisis aid.
The Commission’s proposal now heads to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. If adopted, the funds will be released swiftly to sustain the reconstruction already underway in Valencia and other affected regions.
