Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Monday the government would try to find additional money for the reconstruction of houses damaged in last week's earthquake by reallocating EU funds.

“We are talking with the European Commission and trying to reallocate some of the money from the current multiannual financial framework, which lasts from 2014 to 2020 and can be consumed until 2023, a little over €100 million,” he told the press after a cabinet meeting.

Speaking of the government’s decision to declare a disaster for the quake-hit areas, he said it gave him the possibility to run the civil protection authority.

“Given that we are still actively fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and that we have a new crisis which demands additional government engagement, a second leader has been appointed to fully dedicate himself to coordinating operations,” Plenkovic said of a decision to appoint Deputy PM Tomo Medved as head of a team that will deal with the aftermath of the earthquake.

In the event of another disaster, such as a flood or a fire, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic will be in charge.