European Union aid has arrived for the areas hit by Cyclone Harry last January. Italy in particular will receive 74.9 million euros from the European Parliament which approved the allocation under the EU Solidarity Fund, the community instrument that helps member states deal with the consequences of major natural disasters. The resources will be used to contribute to the interventions necessary to overcome the damage caused by the storm and promote a return to normality in the affected areas.
The green light arrived on 21 October 2026 in Strasbourg, with 651 votes in favour, 17 against and 3 abstentions. The disbursement of the funds must now go through the formal approval of the Council of the European Union, before the transfer of resources by the European Commission.
Cyclone Harry, how much Italy will receive from the European Union
The sum expected for Italy amounts to 74.9 million euros. This is financial support intended for restoration interventions in the areas affected by Cyclone Harry, which affected the country in January 2026. The financing is part of an overall package of 489 million euros approved by the European Parliament to help four countries cope with the damage caused by extreme weather events.
In addition to Italy, Malta is involved, which will receive 3.7 million euros for the consequences of the same storm Harry, Portugal and Spain, hit by severe floods in February 2026. In detail, 261.5 million euros are expected for Portugal and 149.1 million for Spain. The distribution of resources reflects the requests for assistance presented by individual countries in relation to the damage suffered.
What will the funds for Cyclone Harry be used for?
European resources are intended to support the restoration of areas damaged by the storm. The EU Solidarity Fund intervenes to help states manage the consequences of particularly serious natural disasters and to finance the operations necessary for the recovery of the affected territories.
The support should therefore not be interpreted as a contribution paid directly to all damaged families or businesses. Rather, these are public funds intended for eligible interventions provided for by the European mechanism, according to the procedures and conditions established for their use. The objective is to contribute to the expenses related to the management of the emergency and the restoration of essential conditions in the affected areas. The actual destination of the sums will depend on the interventions recognized as eligible and the implementation methods envisaged by the competent authorities.
EU solidarity fund, how it works
The European Union Solidarity Fund was established to enable the EU to provide financial support to Member States affected by major natural disasters. It can be activated, if the requirements are met, to help cover some public expenses incurred to deal with the emergency and restore essential services and infrastructure.
The fund represents an instrument of solidarity between European countries: it allows national resources to be supported when an exceptional event causes significant damage and requires extraordinary interventions. The approval of the European Parliament is an important step, but it does not yet coincide with the actual transfer of the money. In the case of aid for Cyclone Harry, formal approval from the EU Council remains necessary, after which the European Commission will be able to proceed with the financing.
