Slovenia, Croatia and Austria will receive €14.6 million in EU aid to help repair damage caused by severe floods in 2012. The aid was approved by Parliament in a vote on Wednesday.

The European Solidarity Fund aid will help repair damage done by heavy rain and floods in October and November 2012 to private and public buildings, water and waste water infrastructure, businesses, farmland and forests.

Worst-hit Slovenia will receive €14 million, Croatia €286,587 and Austria €240,000. The total direct damage is estimated at €359.535 million for Slovenia, €11.463 million for Croatia and €9.6 million for Austria.

The European Solidarity Fund was set up in November 2002 to help victims of natural disasters in regions in need of financial support. It has an annual ceiling of €1 billion.

The aid was approved by 683 votes to 15, with 4 abstentions, in a vote on a resolution drafted by José Manuel Fernandes.