Resolution on the devastating floods in central and eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the devastating floods in central and eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew, Greens/EFA and The Left groups.
Context
Heavy rain and strong winds have impacted central and eastern Europe, in particular Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, causing floods that have resulted in human casualties and large-scale damage.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA), the climate crisis is leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as floods, storms and heatwaves, making precipitation and storms more severe, heatwaves hotter and droughts drier.
In some parts of the affected regions of central and eastern Europe, three quarters of the average annual precipitation fell in just four days. Effective and coordinated cooperation between rescue services and the rapid cross-border exchange of resources and expertise have saved lives and prevented worse damage. Coordination at EU level, the pooling of resources and the exchange of best practices are essential for successful disaster relief.
In its resolution, Parliament conveyed its deepest sympathy to and solidarity with the victims, their families and the people and communities affected by the ongoing extreme weather events and severe flooding in central and eastern Europe. It stressed that keeping the long-term goal of the Paris Agreement within reach requires collective effort and further action from all countries involved.
Civil protection
The Commission and the Member States are called on to support any Member State that requests emergency assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) without delay. Parliament stressed the need to provide the UCPM with sufficient and upgraded resources in order to increase preparedness and improve capacity building. In this regard, they regretted the budget cuts of EUR 37 million (in commitments) and EUR 154.9 million (in payments) for the UCPM (rescEU) and called for increased funding to be allocated for the relevant budget lines and in the next MFF.
Members called on the Commission to swiftly complete its planned review of the UCPM, including its Emergency Response Coordination Centre, in the first year of the new Commission’s mandate, and to present concrete measures for further strengthening and developing the EU’s collective ability to react to natural disasters, such as the creation of an EU civil protection force for strategic reserves of food, water, medicines and medical equipment. They called for the speeding up of establishment of the new permanent rescEU fleet and ensure that it receives adequate funding.
Financial support and budgetary instruments
Members called for immediate EU financial and technical assistance to be provided to the affected countries. They called urgently for the activation of the CAP’s Crisis Reserve to alleviate severe losses suffered by the agricultural sector as a result of the natural disasters. The Commission is urged to increase the budget of the European Solidarity Reserve (ESR), explore all possible avenues for accelerating the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund and ensure adequate funding for EUSF under the next MFF.
Regional policy
The Commission is called on to provide technical and financial support to the regions disproportionately affected by natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, including through the cohesion policy instruments, ensuring that no Member State or region is left behind in the efforts to enhance climate resilience and disaster preparedness. It is essential for aid and financial resources to be made available in the affected areas in as quick, easy and flexible a manner as possible. In this regard, substantially increasing advance payments from the EUSF would allow Member States to respond more effectively and quickly to disasters, especially in less developed regions, where immediate assistance is required.
Members strongly supported the strengthening of EU investments linked to regional and local resilience in the next MFF, notably under cohesion policy. They emphasised the importance of designing and maintaining tailor-made EU programmes and measures for regions prone to natural disasters.
Climate adaptation
The resolution called on the Commission to swiftly present the European climate adaptation plan that it announced as part of the 2024-2029 Political Guidelines for the next European Commission, including concrete legislative proposals, so as to coordinate efforts to enhance adaptation and resilience in line with the goals of the European Climate Law and the Paris Agreement. Members stressed the need for further urgent investment in flood management and risk prevention measures, including improved early warning systems, real-time monitoring systems, flood management infrastructure and nature-based solutions, and long-term investments in green and blue infrastructure, such as giving streams and rivers more space by restoring natural flood plains and old riverbeds, wetlands and forests, and improving water retention by restoring the sponge function of landscapes.