The President of the European Commission visited flood-stricken regions in Poland. She expressed sympathy for the affected countries and assured that they would not be left alone with the outcome of the disaster.

“Europe is with you and on your side. We all need to unite and face the challenge together. [...] These are extraordinary times, and such times call for extraordinary measures,”

Ursula von der Leyen pointed out.

The President of the European Commission noted that the countries affected by the floods would be able to use €10 billion from the Cohesion Fund. Poland will be able to take advantage of €5 billion, or around 20 billion PLN.

“Of this €10 billion, €5 billion - half of the total amount - will go to Poland,"

the Prime Minister noted during the evening meeting.

He explained that the funds were intended for Poland, but due to delays concerning spending them in recent years, we would be unable to use them otherwise.

“We are talking about the €10 billion available to all countries. [...]. These funds would go unused if the President did not make certain decisions,”

Donald Tusk explained.

Importantly, this funding will be allocated from the EU budget, which means that there will be no need to use our own funds. The support will be paid in advance - the countries affected by the floods will quickly get money that they can use for relief.

“We are not going to delay. [...] As soon as we get the funds, we will use it as needed - we will tackle settlements later,"

the Prime Minister noted.

As he explained, it took 45 minutes to agree on expectations and get satisfactory declarations from the European Commission.

“We will be responsible for our countries' disaster recovery plans. Poland will also present a programme concerning the reconstruction of all affected areas. We will combine national, European and local government funding to ensure comprehensive support for all the victims,”

the Prime Minister stated after a meeting with the President of the EC and the leaders of Austria, Czechia and Slovakia.

What is more, the European Union will allocate funds from the Solidarity Fund to support the affected countries. They can be used for rebuilding road and rail infrastructure.

During a meeting with the Prime Minister, the Internal Security Agency officers mentioned some individuals who were impersonating soldiers and spreading false information regarding plans to blow up the embankments. During this evening meeting, the Prime Minister informed that the ISA agents had apprehended the perpetrators.

“It turned out that the initial assumptions were correct and it was a serious matter, as the arrested individuals were wearing uniforms and spreading disinformation. Their aim was to sow panic, mainly by spreading fake news about plans to blow up the embankments,”

Donald Tusk informed.

The Prime Minister said that this kind of behaviour would not be tolerated.

The Prime Minister noted that looting would be severely punished.

“If anybody gets caught - and we are going to be as effective as we can in this regard - will be punished to the full extent of the law, harder than in any other circumstances,”

the Prime Minister warned.

The affected areas are constantly monitored by police and military with specialised equipment.

The government will provide financial support to all the victims of the floods. The Prime Minister noted that this assistance has nothing to do with insurance, and that all affected individuals are entitled to the same support.

“I have already been told that in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship 684 families have already received benefits amounting to over 3 million PLN, 49 families in the Opole Voivodeship already got their help, along with 185 families in the Silesian Voivodeship. 9.5 million PLN is scheduled to be paid out tomorrow,"

said Tomasz Siemioniak, Minister of the Interior and Administration.

The Prime Minister once again urged the local government officials to process requests and disburse funds as quickly as possible.