WARSAW, Poland: Leaders from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria will meet Thursday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Poland to discuss aid for regions devastated by Storm Boris. The storm, which has ravaged central and eastern Europe, has claimed 24 lives—five in Austria, seven in Poland, seven in Romania, and five in the Czech Republic.
The meeting, set in Wroclaw, Poland, comes as floodwaters continue to rise, threatening dams and local infrastructure. The leaders will focus on securing European financial assistance and improving coordination for flood protection.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer plans to push for the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which the Czech Republic has already requested. Poland has unlocked €470 million in aid, while Austria has pledged to increase its disaster relief fund to €1 billion.
With severe damage to homes, bridges, and roads, local communities are mobilizing grassroots initiatives as they face ongoing power and water shortages.
