Though the world economy is still reeling from almost a year of retraction in response to the pandemic, international support for Croatia following the shattering 29 December earthquake in Sisak Moslavina was still forthcoming. Croatia-based ambassadors from Japan and Canada went to visit the affected area themselves, the latter country organised a significant donation. As did Serbia and other neighbours.
Croatia’s partners in the European Union not only responded individually but collectively. The European Parliament passed a resolution to help Croatia after the earthquake. 683 MEPs voted in the resolution, with a magnanimous 677 of them voting in favour. However unbelievable it might be, 5 anti-EU MEPs voted against Croatia earthquake aid and one more abstained. All six were Conservative and Anti-EU/anti-federalist MEPs.
The resolution was introduced in order to help provide aid and to rebuild the area of Sisak, Petrinja and Glina, affected by the 29 December earthquake, but also Zagreb. It proposed that under such extraordinary circumstances that befell Croatia in 2020, the help of the European Union was needed.
Only a ‘shameful six’ of Conservative and anti-EU MEPs voted against Croatia earthquake aid or abstained. Swedish MEPs Peter Lundgren, Jessica Stegrud and Charlie Weimers, members of the anti-federalist party of European Conservatives and Reformists, were three of the anti-EU MEPs voted against Croatia earthquake aid.
Dutch right-winger Marcel de Graaff – co-president alongside France’s Marine Le Pen of the Europe of Nations and Freedom voting block in the EU – was the last of the anti-EU MEPs voted against Croatia earthquake aid. Spanish conservative Isabel Benjumea joined him in voting against the measures. Belgian right-wing and anti-immigration MEP Philip De Man, a member of the Identity and Democracy voting group, abstained.
