The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated this summer for an increasing number of extreme weather events, including devastating floods (Slovenia, Cyprus, more recently Greece and Bulgaria) and the largest wildfires ever recorded in the EU (in particular in the Mediterranean region). MEPs debate with the Council and Commission better protecting Europeans from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires. Extracts from the debate

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

REINTKE, Terry (Greens/EFA, DE)

natural disasters (T)

MATO, Gabriel (EPP, ES)

fight against climate change (T)

LENARČIČ, Janez (SI, EC)

RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, María Soraya (Renew, ES)

AGIUS SALIBA, Alex (S&D, MT)

KIZILYÜREK, Niyazi (The Left, CY)

NAVARRO RÍOS, Pascual Ignacio

Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires: extracts from the debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/72047310/1694182949249_I245602Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual NAVARRO R&Iacute;OS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union Once again this year, Europe has endured a difficult summer with extreme temperatures and climate events. According to Copernicus, 23 was the warmest year that this continent has ever seen. Nonetheless, an immediate response to catastrophes is not enough. Member states and EU institutions have to work more to prevent natural disasters, particularly strengthening risk reduction capacity. This is going to be a key moment to reach the COP 20. It will be a key moment to reach a global agreement to ensure that we have a climate neutral economy and that we all prepare to face up to the changes that we're going to see.

SOUNDBITE (English), LENARČIČ Janez, European Commissioner for Crisis Management We must build prevention, preparedness and response into every part of our society. This is why the Commission requested the reinforcement of both the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve and the Flexibility instrument within the Multiannual Financial Framework Revision. Whether we can continue delivering in the coming years, be it nationally or jointly, depends on the decisions we make today.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), MATO Gabriel (EPP, ES), We need to strengthen our cohesion policy and the Solidarity Fund and the Civil Protection Mechanism. It is also important that Member States work to conserve and protect and prevent and restore forests.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), AGIUS SALIBA Alex (S&D, MT), These extreme conditions are with us and they will be on the increase. And this leaves a negative impact on our quality of life, our environment and our economies. Therefore, we need a strategic plan and we need to continue to invest in a resistance plan that will help citizens protect them, protect in the industries, critical infrastructure and our environmental sustainability.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Maria Soraya RODRIGUEZ RAMOS (RENEW, ES), Europe is an at risk area for natural disasters. Climate change is being caused by global warming and we need to have a European plan for prevention and adaptation and mitigation and resilience plan to face up to these changes.

SOUNDBITE (German), Terry REINTKE (Greens, DE), Co-President Despite this reality, there are politicians who say that maybe we need a break first. A break which would mean that weather patterns will get even worse in the future. And then we'll need to take even more desperate measures to fight against this situation. No breaks. No breaks. No pauses. We need to continue to tackle the climate crisis. The effects of the climate crisis will not take pauses either. So we need to handle it, we need to do something now. This is a politically responsible. Because anything else, colleagues, is just to ignore reality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Niyazi KIZILYÜREK (The Left, CY) The complexity of disasters implies timely planning. And also demand high level, dynamic responding governance against climate related, life threatening risks. We need centralized management. We way the EU handled the pandemic may be a good example.