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Brussels – The presidents of the European Commission, the Council, and the Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, and Roberta Metsola, showed the European Union’s willingness this Wednesday to help Spain cope with the devastating consequences of the floods recorded in the south and east of the country.
In a press conference, Von der Leyen indicated they had offered Spain to activate the European Union’s civil protection mechanism, aimed at strengthening civil protection cooperation among the member states of the community club and ten other countries, to provide a better response to disasters.
“We have activated our Copernicus satellite system to help coordinate rescue teams and have already offered to activate our civil protection mechanism. Europe is ready to help,” declared the German politician in a press conference.
Michel, for his part, assured that the European Union “is ready to provide its support” to Spain and gave his support to the Spanish Prime Minister: “Dear Pedro Sánchez, we are on your side,” he said on X.
“Europe is willing to help” face the “serious floods” with “catastrophic” consequences, affirmed Metsola on the same social network.
“European solidarity must materialize in a rapid, coordinated, and effective response to this devastating human and economic crisis,” wrote the president of the People’s Party, Alberto Nuñez Feijóo, and MEP Dolors Montserrat in a joint letter to the President of the European Commission.
The two popular leaders assured that the EU will be “up to the needs, collaborating in financing recovery and reconstruction operations, from repairing damaged infrastructures to protecting new preventive infrastructures, conserving cultural heritage, and cleaning efforts.”
“We must assure the Spaniards that the EU is by their side to bear the losses in the most affected areas and to support the recovery of infrastructures, agriculture, livestock, and industrial parks in the affected areas,” they added.
Also, the president of the Socialist and Democrats group (the second most important in the European Parliament), Iratxe García, pointed out on her account on X that “from Europe, we will do everything necessary to activate the available aid mechanisms,” she said.
“We request that the European Commission make available to Spain the European Union Solidarity Fund and activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to provide the necessary support in these difficult times,” wrote Podemos MEPs Irene Montero and Isabel Serra in a letter to Von der Leyen.
In their letter, the two MEPs asked Von der Leyen to “encourage” Spain “to request the activation of the Mechanism to coordinate and maximize the response to this emergency, quickly mobilizing specialized resources and facilitating logistical and technical support.”
That mechanism can only be activated at the request of the member state that needs help in cases of natural disasters.
Montero and Serra also requested the activation of the Solidarity Fund to address the subsequent financial aid needs.
“Deploying both resources as quickly as possible is crucial to mitigate the damage suffered by the inhabitants of the affected areas,” they noted.
Vox MEP Jorge Buxadé expressed his “horror” at the tragedy. “All of Spain must rally,” he added on X.
Moreover, the Valencian MEP from the Greens, Vicent Marzà, said that his group has requested an “urgent” debate in the European Parliament about the floods in Valencia.
The Compromís MEP said there is “no doubt” that more investment is needed in emergency planning and climate change adaptation.
The flooding has caused at least 64 deaths in the province of Valencia and affects the rest of the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha, and Andalusia. (October 30)
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