European Parliament debated and adopted during the plenary session a strengthened EU legal framework for civil protection, in response to the unprecedented experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extracts from the debate (26/04) with Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL), Rapporteur, Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Jytte GUTELAND (S&D, SE), Pietro FIOCCHI (ECR, IT), Kateřina KONEČNÁ (The Left, CZ), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG) and announcement of the result of the vote (28/04).

Brussels

debate

plenary session

vote

GUTELAND, Jytte (S&D, SE)

KONEČNÁ, Kateřina (The Left, CZ)

GABRIEL, Mariya (EPP, BG, EC)

civil protection mechanism (T)

ANDROULAKIS, Nikos (S&D, EL)

KANEV, Radan (EPP, BG)

FIOCCHI, Pietro (ECR, IT)

Union Civil Protection Mechanism: extracts from the debate (26/04) and from the vote

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&amp;D, EL), Rapporteur, So this mechanism has helped us to deal with the pandemic in Europe. But it is also a tool that shows solidarity towards third countries, as we saw yesterday with India, despite that contribution, however, there are weaknesses with this mechanism. Up until a year ago, this mechanism dealt with natural disasters such as earthquakes and forest fires. We've seen that there have been health crises before, but never one of this scale. This pandemic has shown that we weren't ready. We have therefore asked for a tripling of the budget in comparison to the initial proposal.President Michel initially said that the 2021-2027 period would only have a one billion budget. But this situation has shown we need more. So based on our agreement, this mechanism will now have 3.1 billion euros available, of which 2 billion euros will come from the recovery fund so that all the necessary investments can take place.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, We are therefore grateful that with the strong commitment of the European Parliament, we could read in record time of only eight months a political agreement on the commission's proposal to strengthen the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which targeted adjustements to the existing legal framework and with the substantial budget increase, will be better prepared and be more flexible to support member states in addressing not only the current pandemic but also any future large scale crisis. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, With the next generation European funding, the Union's civil protection mechanism will receive a significant budget increase and budget implementation will become more flexible. This will allow us to continue to grow the rescueEU medical stockpile and invest in other capacities to further increase our readiness to respond to the covid-19 pandemic.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jytte GUTELAND (S&amp;D, SE), I welcome that we now have reached an agreement on a strengthened mechanism on crisis management. The pandemic has illustrated painfully for us all that EU needs to step up and make sure that our coordinating response to crisis are better

SOUNDBITE (English), Jytte GUTELAND (S&amp;D, SE), But unless we are better tackling the global heating, the risk of natural diseases increase for every day that goes. We need to prepare much better for events like forest fires, flooding and landslides. And I now feel more secure with the preparedness that we achieve now with this agreement.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Pietro FIOCCHI (ECR, IT), As the ECR group and as the rapporteur, I think that this is a very pragmatic, successful text. It's a good one and one that's going in the right direction.

SOUNDBITE (Czech), KONE&#268;N&#193; Kate&#345;ina (The Left, CZ), We have succeeded in making sure the mechanism allows us to better respond to current challenges. The mechanism was primarily used for natural disasters only, but last year has shown that the EU and the member states are not ready to respond to the extraordinary events of great magnitude.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG), With this mechanism, ReactEU and the civil protection mechanism, we are provided with the possibility of reacting quicker to catastrophes and we are better prepared to face disasters in the future. And it's not just common funding. Rather, it's gathereing together knowledge and experience and prevention.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Your positive vote would lay a strong foundation for our joint work towards a much more resilient and better prepared Europe. Thank you. Merci beaucoup.Thank you

Announcement of the result of the vote: 641 in favour, 44 against, 14 abstentions, 2 shots.