Brussels, 18 September 2024
Honourable Members,
Over the last few days, nearly 2 million people across central and eastern Europe have been exposed to devastating flooding. With rainfall three to four times the average, rivers like the Danube have risen to levels unseen in a century. At the same time, on the opposite side of Europe, thousands of hectares of forest are burning in Portugal.
I want to express my deepest sympathy and solidarity with those affected by these disasters. To the grieving families of the victims, I extend my heartfelt condolences. Like many of you, I am shocked by the images of people being evacuated from their homes, families left with nothing, and the scenes of death and destruction on our continent.
As the new Commission begins, we are confronted with a Europe that is both flooding and burning. These once-in-a-lifetime extreme weather events are now occurring almost annually, pushing the reality of climate breakdown into the daily lives of Europeans. It is crucial that we step up our disaster preparedness and response efforts, both at the national and European levels, to confront emergencies like these.
This tragedy is not an anomaly—it is fast becoming the norm for our shared future. The European Union must rise to this challenge by developing our crisis preparedness and response capacities, particularly through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, to keep pace with the increasing frequency and severity of disasters.
In central and eastern Europe, we have been monitoring the situation closely since 9 September. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre, our 24/7 operational hub in Brussels, has provided regular updates in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre. We have been in continuous contact with the emergency services of affected Member States.
Thanks to the European Flood Awareness System of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, we began issuing early warnings to areas at risk from 10 September onwards. By 13 September, we had sent over 100 warnings to authorities across the region, and upon request from five Member States, we provided rapid mapping services for flood-affected areas.
Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, we have offered assistance and swift response. So far, Czechia has requested support, and the first offers of assistance were made immediately. We are closely monitoring the situation as water levels in the Oder river in Poland and the Danube in Hungary are expected to peak soon.
In addition to immediate response, affected Member States may later request financial support from the EU Solidarity Fund following damage assessments. Today, we mourn the tragedy and stand in solidarity with the victims, but we must also prepare for the future. We are already living in an age of crisis, and Europe, the fastest-warming continent globally, is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events like the ones we are currently facing.
We cannot return to a safer past. We cannot afford a ‘year off’. And we cannot rely on current levels of preparedness to protect European citizens from the growing threats. That is why we must strengthen the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and ensure it is adequately funded to meet these challenges.
It is essential that we increase not only our disaster response capacity but also our efforts in preparedness, prevention, and resilience. Preparedness is an investment in our future. For every euro invested in prevention and preparedness, there is a return of two to ten euros in avoided losses and other benefits. In the 1980s, the average annual cost of disasters was 8 billion euros. In 2022 alone, damages exceeded 50 billion euros. The cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of action.
That is why we have embraced a common EU resilience agenda, including the establishment of five EU Disaster Resilience Goals. These goals aim to strengthen collective resilience across all levels—European, national, and local—and foster cooperation across the civil protection community. Together, we are building cross-border resilience, particularly through the Floods Directive and the upcoming European Water Resilience Strategy.
One of the key lessons we have learned is that these challenges cannot be addressed solely through civil protection measures. We need an all-hazard, all-of-society approach, with cross-sectoral cooperation across policies and funding.
I welcome the recognition of preparedness in the portfolio of my successor, as highlighted by the Commission President. The new Commission will be guided by the report on civil and military preparedness, which will be presented later this year by former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
Honourable Members, the challenge ahead is larger than ever, but I have faith that together, we can build a more disaster-resilient and safer Europe.
Thank you.
Source – EU Commission