Changes from resolution motion to resolution motion joint

RemovedB100061/2024

European Parliament 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

(2024/2817(RSP))

The European Parliament,

Change 1

Changed–− having regard to its resolution ofthe 15UN SeptemberFramework 2022Convention on theClimate consequencesChange, ofand drought,in fire,particular andthe other2015 extremeParis weatherAgreement phenomena:thereof, increasingwhich theentered EU’sinto effortsforce toon fight4 climateNovember change,2016,

Change 2

Changed–− having regard to its resolution ofthe 28United NovemberNations 2019Convention on the climate and environmentBiological emergency,Diversity,

Change 3

Removed– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law),

Added− having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,

Removed– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration (Nature Restoration Law),

Added− having regard to the Commission’s 2019 Fitness Check of the Water Framework Directive, Groundwater Directive, Environmental Quality Standards Directive and Floods Directive (SWD(2019)0439),

Change 4

Changed–− having regard to itsthe resolutionCommission communication of 1524 JuneFebruary 20232021 onentitled ‘Forging a Europeanclimate-resilient DayEurope for– the victimsnew ofEU theStrategy globalon climateAdaptation crisis,to Climate Change’ (COM(2021)0082),

Change 5

Removed– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (Common Provisions Regulation),

Added− having regard to its resolution of 17 December 2020 on the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change,

Change 6

Changed–− having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of theCommission Councilguidelines of 2426 JuneJuly 20212023 on the EuropeanMember RegionalStates’ Developmentadaptation Fundstrategies and on the Cohesion Fund,plans,

Change 7

Removed– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund,

Added− having regard to its resolution of 15 September 2022 on the consequences of drought, fire, and other extreme weather phenomena: increasing the EU’s efforts to fight climate change,

Removed– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

Added− having regard to its resolution of 15 June 2023 on a European Day for the victims of the global climate crisis,

RemovedA. whereas individual extreme weather events cannot be directly attributed to a specific cause; whereas it is clear, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that the climate crisis is leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as floods, storms and heatwaves; whereas this means that precipitation and storms are becoming more severe, heatwaves hotter and droughts drier;

Added− having regard to European Environment Agency (EEA) Report No 1/2024 of 11 March 2024 entitled ‘The European Climate Risk Assessment’,

RemovedB. whereas, according to data from the Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, August 2024 was 1.51 °C above the pre-industrial level and marked the thirteenth month in a 14-month period during which the average global surface air temperature exceeded 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels;

Added− having regard to the Commission communication of 12 March 2024 entitled ‘Managing climate risks – protecting people and prosperity’ (COM(2024)0091),

RemovedC. whereas the ongoing flooding in central and eastern Europe in September 2024 is caused by record heavy rainfall from Storm Boris, an extremely humid Genoa low; whereas the flooding began in Austria and Czechia, subsequently spreading to Poland, Romania and Slovakia, and later to Germany and Hungary;

Added− having regard to EEA Report 3/2024 of 15 May 2024 entitled ‘Responding to climate change impacts on human health in Europe: focus on floods, droughts and water quality’,

RemovedD. whereas, even with the multiannual financial framework (MFF) revision, the budget of the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is still insufficient to mount an adequate response to major natural disasters and give expression to European solidarity with disaster-hit regions;

Added− having regard to the final report of the Climate Resilience Dialogue, published in July 2024,

RemovedE. whereas there is a need for coordinated local, regional, national and cross-border action to mitigate the immediate and future effects of such natural disasters, including sustainable flood management systems, climate adaptation measures and increased resilience;

Added− having regard to the Commission communication of 29 May 2024 on the evaluation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism – Strengthening EU’s emergency preparedness (COM(2024)0212),

RemovedF. whereas urgent action is needed to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and significantly enhancing efforts on adaptation and resilience across all sectors, in order to minimise and manage the impacts on the environment, human and animal health, agriculture and the economy;

Added− having regard to the statement by the Commission of 18 September 2024 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,

RemovedG. whereas, according to Eurobarometer data, the majority of Europeans believe that the transition to a green economy should be accelerated, and nearly 4 in 10 EU citizens report feeling personally exposed to environmental and climate-related risks and threats;

Added– having regard to Rules 136(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

RemovedH. whereas floods, like other extreme weather events, have a disproportionate social impact on vulnerable groups compared to the general population; whereas senior citizens, children, those in poor health, economically disadvantaged individuals, and emergency services and clean-up professionals, are consistently among those most impacted, suffering both physically and mentally either immediately following such events or in the long term; whereas those lacking stable housing and relying on precarious labour are more acutely affected by natural disasters; whereas another key group at risk of cascading health and economic impacts from droughts and floods are farmers and rural communities, whose livelihoods rely on stable, predictable weather and climate conditions;

AddedA. whereas 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; whereas a significant part of their territories has been affected, in particular less developed regions with weaker infrastructure and agricultural regions;

Removed1. Conveys its deepest sympathy to and solidarity with the victims, their families and all the people and communities affected by the ongoing extreme weather events and devastating flooding in central and eastern Europe, including in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia; expresses solidarity with those impacted by the wildfires in Greece and Portugal; recognises the profound emotional and material toll these disasters have taken on individuals and communities, and, in these moments of hardship and loss, stands with those affected;

AddedB. whereas individual extreme weather events cannot be directly attributed to a specific cause; whereas it is clear, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA), that 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;

Removed2. Commends the unwavering efforts and dedication of the professional and volunteer fire departments, rescue organisations, volunteers and military personnel in the countries affected by the floods and other natural disasters across Europe; believes that their courageous actions, alongside those of national, regional and local authorities and members of the public who have risked their lives to save others, protect homes and safeguard infrastructure, are deserving of the highest praise; stresses that these emergency services have played a vital role in saving lives, evacuating vulnerable areas and protecting property in incredibly challenging conditions, and that their willingness to act, even at great personal risk, has been crucial in mitigating the disaster;

AddedC. whereas the first EUCRA and the Commission communication on managing climate risks – protecting people and prosperity, point out that Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world and severe phenomena such as wildfires, droughts and floods are becoming more and more frequent across Europe as a result of the effects of climate change; whereas the average temperature over European land in summer 2024 was the highest on record for the season, at 1.54 °C above the 1991-2020 average, exceeding the previous record from 2022; whereas this marked a 14-month period during which the average global surface air temperature exceeded 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels;

Removed3. Expresses its deep concern over the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events across the EU, including heavy precipitation, widespread flooding, heatwaves and wildfires, which have serious and direct impacts on human health, livelihoods, housing, infrastructure and agriculture; underscores the urgent need to strengthen the EU’s collective response to these adverse events through enhanced civil protection and climate adaptation and mitigation measures, ensuring the safety of people, the protection of their livelihoods and the resilience of the economy;

AddedD. whereas in the past 30 years alone, flooding across Europe has affected 5.5 million people, with almost 3 000 lives lost and causing more than EUR 170 billion in economic damage; whereas climate change is significantly increasing flood risks across Europe;

Removed4. Believes that these extreme weather conditions, as part of the ongoing climate emergency, are a sign of the need for more ambitious action on climate change mitigation and adaptation;

AddedE. whereas in some parts of the affected regions of central and eastern Europe, three quarters of the average annual precipitation fell in just four days; whereas effective and coordinated cooperation between rescue services and the rapid cross-border exchange of resources and expertise have saved lives and prevented worse damage; whereas coordination at EU level, the pooling of resources and the exchange of best practices are essential for successful disaster relief;

Removed5. Considers that the EU should play a leading role in this process and reinforce its efforts in all sectors; recalls that, in line with the European Climate Law, the Paris Agreement and the best available science, the EU should step up its climate action both on mitigation, to limit global warming to 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial levels, and on adaptation, to foster resilience;

AddedF. whereas several Member States activated Copernicus Rapid satellite mapping services during the September 2024 floods (Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary);

Removed6. Calls on the Member States to prioritise and identify short-, medium- and long-term restoration measures for ecosystems that are degraded as a result of extreme weather events; calls, furthermore, for EU guidelines on post-emergency restoration plans to identify priority areas for the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction phases after disasters caused by floods, forest fires, heatwaves or droughts, including recommendations on increasing resilience and revitalising livelihoods, economies and the affected environment in line with the One Health approach;

AddedG. whereas the Commission’s 2024 communication evaluating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) identifies the needs and challenges facing civil protection in Europe and provides recommendations to improve the UCPM’s effectiveness; whereas it also stresses the increasingly complex and diverse challenges and threats that the EU faces, which include the growing number of conflicts, and both human-induced and natural disasters, such as extreme weather events, along with evolving security risks, and showcases how these developments place significant strain on the EU’s disaster risk management framework and the UCPM’s operational effectiveness;

Removed7. Calls for the swift adoption of a robust EU climate adaptation law to coordinate Member State efforts in enhancing adaptation and resilience, in line with the objectives of the European Climate Law; notes that this law should establish measurable targets across key areas, such as water, health, infrastructure, the economy and spatial planning; notes, specifically, that it should ensure that all critical infrastructure is climate-proof by 2030 and that all Member States implement sustainable water management plans by 2027;

AddedH. whereas the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was created following the ‘Millennium Floods’ that affected the same region in 1997 and 2002; whereas, even with the multiannual financial framework (MFF) revision, the EUSF budget is still insufficient to mount an adequate response to major natural disasters and give expression to European solidarity with disaster-hit regions;

Removed8. Calls for the full implementation of the 2030 climate and energy framework and the Fit for 55 agenda to reduce human-made emissions responsible for climate change, and for increased EU ambition through the adoption of new post-2030 targets and a comprehensive revision of the European Climate Law;

AddedI. whereas natural disasters have a negative long-term impact on economic, social and territorial cohesion in different areas, regions and Member States of the EU;

Removed9. Calls on the Member States to fully and effectively implement the Nature Restoration Law, which will enhance synergies between measures for climate change mitigation, adaptation, disaster prevention and nature restoration; expects this law to play a crucial role in promoting the restoration of drought-resilient ecosystems, including multi-age, multi-species and biodiverse forests with continuous cover, as well as wetlands, natural vegetation, floodplain dynamics and landscape-wide natural infiltration systems, while also improving river basin resilience;

AddedJ. whereas, owing to its regional focus, place-based approach, strategic planning and effective implementation model, cohesion policy should play a key role in the prevention of disasters, recovery from symmetric and asymmetric shocks, and the fight against climate change;

Removed10. Underlines the negative, long-term influence that natural disasters have on economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU by hindering the implementation of EU cohesion policy; recognises the particular vulnerability of the territories listed in Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which often have limited resources for recovery;

AddedK. whereas nature-based solutions are essential to prevent climate-induced weather-related disasters; whereas floodplains and healthy forests, soils and moors, wetlands and peatlands, and natural green areas in cities and the countryside act as a buffer against climate impacts by retaining water and mitigating the effects of floods and droughts;

Removed11. Calls on the Commission to activate, without undue delay, the European Solidarity Reserve and the Emergency Aid Reserve to urgently enable assistance with the clean-up operations and to counter immediate health risks;

AddedL. whereas researching and tackling flood risks requires a holistic approach, taking into account various factors including industry, transport, insurance underwriting practices, land-use planning and historical distribution of floodplains, demographic change, financial liability and other relevant aspects; whereas the EEA has pointed out that vulnerable groups and regions are more severely affected by floods and other weather extremes;

Removed12. Calls for the activation of mechanisms, such as the EUSF, to provide financial assistance to countries in need; highlights that it is vital for aid and funding to be provided to the flood-stricken regions in as quick, easy and flexible a manner as possible, and urges all affected countries to continue providing emergency relief, including food, clean water, medical assistance and temporary shelter to displaced people;

AddedGeneral

Removed13. Recalls, however, that the EUSF has been amended several times in order to expand its scope, and that since 2022, it has included major health emergencies even though its overall financial envelope has not grown; calls, therefore, for the EUSF budget to be significantly increased to help regions anticipate and mitigate the effects of climate change;

Added1. Conveys 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, including in Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia;