What changed

G. whereas the EEA Report No 1/2024 ‘European Climate Risk Assessment’ warned that the Union is unprepared for the effects of climate change even if the world manages to keep global temperature rise to 1,5 degrees Celsius, as set out in the Paris Agreement; whereas there is a need for action to avoid the climate risks identified reaching critical levels;

2. Welcomes the decision as a tangible and visible form of the Union’s solidarity with the citizens and regions affected by the storms in Malta, Italy, Portugal and Spain; underlines that EUSFthe assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) complements the efforts of the Member States concerned, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity and the competences of national, regional and local authorities;

3. Highlights the increasing number of severe, destructive and deadly natural disasters in Europe whose impacts are exacerbated by human activity, despite the efforts already made at Union, national, regional and local level to strengthen disaster preparedness, prevention and resilience and calls on Member States and the Commission to further invest in prevention, resilience, adaptation and mitigation measures to mitigate human and economic losses; notes that Member States should prioritise recovery measures to support the affected populations, primarily the vulnerable communities, to ensure access to adequate housing and essential services during recovery; considers that actions currently financed under the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF)EUSF should continue to be adequately financed under the next MFF, in order to respond to the intensification of natural disasters within the Union and provide tangible support to the Member States and regions affected by such disasters; notes that such financing would allow Member States to respond more effectively and quickly to disasters while other instruments, particularly cohesion funds whose primary purpose is not disaster response, could be preserved;

8. Notes that the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity FundEUSF should be accompanied by reinforced investment in disaster prevention and preparedness and climate resilience; encourages the systematic use and operational integration of innovative digital tools, satellite data (e.g. Copernicus), artificial intelligence and early-warning systems to enhance risk assessment, anticipation, disaster preparedness, response and recovery; calls on Member States and relevant authorities to make full use of existing Union programmes and instruments in this area and to strengthen the coordination and interconnection of relevant services and programmes, including across borders; welcomes in particular the support provided through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to the Portuguese authorities having requested the activation of satellite Earth Observation data from the Copernicus programme to map the flooded areas and the storm impact zone;