Today, an administrative agreement was adopted with the federal states affected by recent floods (North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria and Saxony).

The Federal Government is contributing up to 400 million euros towards immediate assistance approved by the federal states. Each euro of federal state money will be matched by one euro from Federal Government funds. There are no plans to cap the total amount. The necessary budgetary steps are being taken without delay.

Catastrophic flooding in July 2021 caused unprecedented damage and an exceptional emergency in certain regions of the country. Many livelihoods and businesses are under threat. Those affected have the solidarity and support of the federal and state governments in ongoing efforts to repair damage caused by the floods. 

On 21 July 2021, the Federal Government decided to match, euro for euro, the emergency assistance provided by affected federal states. The Federal Government also promised, after total damage estimates were carried out, to help fund reconstruction efforts and quickly restore federal infrastructure. 

The flood assistance measures are being coordinated by a newly established task force of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI) and the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF). 

A state secretaries’ committee was set up under the joint responsibility of the BMI and BMF to coordinate the Federal Government’s 2021 flood reconstruction funds. It convened for the first time on 27 July 2021.

The immediate assistance is intended for the rapid repair of direct damage to buildings and agricultural and forestry production facilities, as well as to private sector businesses. It will also be used to repair direct damage to municipal and other infrastructure crucial to the local economy, and to cover emergency expenses.