Minister Fitto,
Governor Bonaccini,
Mayor Zattini,
Commissioner,
Excellencies,
It is very moving for me to be back in Emilia-Romagna, because I vividly remember the visit last year in May. I will never forget the devastation these horrible floods caused. What I remember most were these enormous amounts of mud everywhere, the debris floating around and the destruction. But what I also remember very vividly was the phenomenal solidarity. Men, women, even children were working and trying their best to help each other, to comfort each other, even to cook for each other. I got this wonderful Piadina bread. And I remember its warmth, like I remember the warmth of the people I have met.
The European Union has been by your side from day one. And my message today is that we continue to stand by your side. Our cooperation has been excellent. We were able to conclude the revision of NextGenerationEU, your famous PNRR. That was very successful. Now we have dedicated EUR 1.2 billion specifically to this region. We want to help you to come back on your feet, to become more resilient and, for example, to improve flood protection or repair public infrastructure. This is needed, specifically now in this region. But more help is to come.
Besides the PNRR, we also have the agricultural funds. The farmers of Emilia-Romagna are particularly impacted. So we have provided them with EUR 60 million from the agriculture emergency reserve.
We can also redirect money from cohesion policy funds to reconstruction and disaster response. And this can help to revitalise towns and communities that suffered from the disaster, just like in 2017, in the aftermath of the earthquakes in central Italy.
We have mobilised the EU Solidarity Fund. You have received an advance payment of almost EUR 95 million to cover emergency, clean-up and recovery operations. More will come in the next months from this Fund too.
Giorgia, you have spoken about all the preventive measures that we will work on together. But we have seen throughout Europe and the whole world that our planet is heating up with extreme weather events that will become more frequent. Therefore, what is good for the climate is also good for our economies. We must fight climate change. And therefore, it is excellent that your PNRR also invests in renewable energy and in clean technologies.
Italy is well on track in the implementation of the PNRR. The Commission has disbursed the fourth payment at the end of December. That means that already half of the PNRR has been disbursed. And I think this is great news.
When I came here in May, I told you to stay strong, and that Europe is with you. Now I want to say to you, from the bottom of my heart, that we will stay by your side for as long as it takes.
'Tin bota, l'Europa rimane con voi.'
