EC allocates EUR 50m to preserve Pompeii

The European Commission on Wednesday allocated nearly 50 million euros for the renovation and preservation works on the Ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

This investment package, which will be allocated from the European Regional Development Fund, will finance the consolidation of the structures and ancient buildings of this city, the construction of a water canalisation and drainage system, other restoration and enhancement works and training for the staff, said the commission.

Once the restoration works completes, Pompeii is expected to welcome almost 200,000 additional tourists per year, the commission estimated.

Pompeii has been classified as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. This ancient city has been under excavation and the excavated site has deteriorated over time.

Thus European Union (EU) adopted the Pompeii "major project", which was worth 105 million euros, in 2007 to 2013 financial period to stop and reverse the deterioration of the site.

According to the commission, today's allocation will allow the project to be completed with funds in the 2014-2020 period.