Press Release: The EU grants Italy nearly half a billion euros: the largest ever amount under the Solidarity Fund

On 20 November 2009 Paweł Samecki, the Member of the European Commission responsible for regional policy, and Guido Bertolaso, Under- Secretary of State in the Italian Prime Minister’s Office and Head of the Civil Protection Department, signed an agreement confirming the granting of 493.7 million euros to Italy, following the Abruzzo earthquake last April. The aid is being provided from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) and will help to offset Italy’s costs relating to emergency measures.