Resources for E-R reconstruction and prevention - Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 17 - Financial resources made available by the European Union under Italy's revised National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) will make it possible to carry out not just the reconstruction of flood-hit Emilia Romagna but also interventions to prevent extreme bad weather from wrecking similar death and destruction in future, Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday.
    "These resources will make it possible to carry out environmental improvements but also restoration and redevelopment, meaning that we will be doing reconstruction but also something more important, which is prevention," said Meloni following a joint visit with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen to the areas affected by last May's flood and landslide emergency that left 15 people dead and caused billions of euros in damage to infrastructure, property and crops.
    Italy's revised EU-funded NRRP contains a new measure worth 1.2 billion euro on reconstruction in Emilia Romagna.
    "Clearly this work (in the revision of the NRRP, ed.) is in addition to the work that the government has already carried out," added Meloni.
    "It should be added that the support is not limited to NRRP funds but also includes the European Solidarity Fund. We are here to give concrete answers," she said.
    "When we were here Ursula von der Leyen brought European solidarity but also her commitment and the fact that she is here again is a symbol of great seriousness and practicality. We have worked hard together over these months," continued the premier, referring to their first joint visit to the flood-hit area at the end of last May. (ANSA).