Latvia may very likely have to seek financial assistance from the European Commission to cover the costs caused by the storm, Smart Administration and Regional Development Minister Edgars Tavars (AS) said in an interview with Latvijas Radio.
Asked how much money might be needed, Tavars said he did not want to speculate. “The finance minister yesterday mentioned to me the amount that remains in the state budget for unforeseen expenses. Whether that will be enough – I said I cannot answer or guarantee that,” he said, adding that several tens of millions of euros could potentially be required.
The minister acknowledged that Latvia may not have sufficient funds of its own to cover the costs.
According to Tavars, colleagues from the foreign service had suggested the possibility of turning to the European Commission for assistance.
As previously reported,
a very powerful storm battered Latvia on Saturday evening and during the night into Sunday,
leaving more than a quarter of a million households without electricity, damaging infrastructure and causing other widespread destruction.
Municipalities can submit information to the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development about damage to municipally owned infrastructure and, over a two-year period, may qualify for state compensation covering seventy percent of the costs. The municipality itself must cover the remaining losses.
Municipalities can also provide assistance to individuals. Residents can apply to their local municipality, which will accept applications, inspect the damage and make decisions in accordance with its binding regulations or a decision by the municipal council. The municipality can then apply to the ministry, with the state reimbursing fifty percent of these costs.
On Tuesday, the government will decide whether to extend the deadline for municipalities to submit claims for storm-related losses to the Cabinet of Ministers from three to ten working days.
Read also: Latvia’s fire and rescue service warns after devastating storm: everyone must be prepared to cope on their own for 72 hours