Saj Karim on EU help for Cumbria

Sajjad Karim MEP, with his Conservative colleagues Sir Robert Atkins and Jacqueline Foster, have been working to persuade the European Union to provide help for Cumbria in response to the floods.

Saj sent me an email on the subject today and I thought it was worth sharing a few points from that message.


Dear Friends and Colleagues

Meeting with EU Commissioner Samecki regarding Cumbria Floods

Further to my previous update about what actions I have taken with reference to Cumbria, I can confirm that no response has been received from the Government in relation to my call for them to apply for EU funding to assist Cumbria in the aftermath of the devastation caused by the floods.

Yesterday, I met with European Commissioner Pawel Samecki, who is the European Commissioner for Regional Policy. The management of the EU Solidarity Fund is within his remit, so I was keen to meet him to discuss Cumbria’s case and what could be achieved with the solidarity fund to assist Cumbria.

Commissioner Samecki explained that 3.4 billion euros of damage is required before the EU can assist through the auspices of the solidarity fund. The UK Government have to ask for assistance and they have not done so, nor are they showing any indications of an intention to apply. We need to step up and pressure the Government to put in an application. The Government only have 10 weeks from the disaster struck before the window to submit applications closes.

The short term recovery of Cumbria now lies within Government hands, but looking at the bigger picture and at a long term recovery plan; the potential for Cumbria to move to sustainable energy economy is enormous and could play a substantial role in rebuilding the local economy.

Please do keep in touch.



Best wishes



Saj

Sajjad H. Karim MEP
Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the North West of England

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