The Italian Cabinet has approved a new emergency decree law aimed at addressing the devastating floods that struck the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Marche between 2023 and 2024, reports Bologna Today.
The decree extends the scope of reconstruction efforts, prolongs the state of emergency, and strengthens the role of regional authorities.
The decree extends the mandate of the Extraordinary Commissioner for Reconstruction until May 31, 2026. Commissioner Fabrizio Curcio will continue overseeing the recovery operations, including those related to the severe flooding in September and October 2024, which also severely affected Bologna.
In a significant shift, the presidents of the three affected regions — Emilia-Romagna, Marche, and Tuscany — have been appointed as deputy commissioners. They will be directly responsible for coordinating private reconstruction, monitoring public projects, and managing a new extraordinary program focused on reducing hydraulic and hydrogeological risks. Specific support measures are also planned for farmers whose businesses were impacted by the floods.
The decree extends the scope of reconstruction efforts, prolongs the state of emergency, and strengthens the role of regional authorities
The centrepiece of the decree is a long-term, multi-year program to be finalised by May 31, 2024, which allocates €1 billion over the next 10 to 12 years for both flood prevention and reconstruction. The plan includes annual funding of €100 million, with €130 million already earmarked, including €30 million for 2026 and €100 million for 2027. The aim is to ensure consistent financial resources not just for recovery, but also for future risk mitigation.
The decree also mandates the development of a public awareness plan about hydraulic and geological risks by July 2025, with a special focus on Emilia-Romagna, where vast areas remain vulnerable.
Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci acknowledged the delays caused by procedural transparency but emphasized the need to act faster: “We now understand that certain procedures, while necessary for transparency, have slowed us down. But we have a duty to move swiftly,” he said, recognizing the growing frustration of the affected communities.
This decree marks a significant step toward balancing urgent action with long-term resilience in the face of increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters.
