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

on behalf of The Left Group · Rapporteur: Jonas Sjöstedt, Younous Omarjee

✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Parliament expresses sympathy and solidarity with flood victims in Central and Eastern Europe, commends rescue efforts, and calls for massive restoration and assistance to affected regions.¶¶¶ It stresses that climate change exacerbates extreme weather, demands accelerated EU and global efforts to meet Paris Agreement goals, and calls for a strong EU 2040 climate goal aligned with limiting warming to 1.5°C.¶¶ It calls for increased funding for the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, rescEU, and the European Union Solidarity Fund, and for broadening the EUSF's scope to support climate-resilient restoration.¶¶¶ It emphasizes nature-based solutions, full implementation of the Nature Restoration Law, and restoration of free-flowing rivers to improve flood resilience.¶¶¶ It calls for a just transition, gender perspective, and measures to protect human rights of those displaced by climate change.¶¶¶

Key points

Expresses sympathy and solidarity with those who lost lives, loved ones, and livelihoods in floods from Storm Boris in Central and Eastern Europe.¶
Commends rescue efforts and welcomes offers of assistance, including from Ukraine.¶
Calls for solidarity and assistance to affected regions, stressing massive restoration efforts are needed.¶
Warns that climate and environmental emergencies will become more frequent and serious, and stresses the need for stronger adaptation and accelerated mitigation to meet Paris Agreement goals.¶¶
Calls for a strong EU 2040 climate goal aligned with 1.5°C, and stresses that climate stability is essential for agriculture and food safety.¶
Emphasizes that a just transition is needed, with focus on socio-economic impacts on low-income households and intergenerational justice.¶
Calls for EU support to developing nations for mitigation and adaptation, recalling UN call for net-zero by 2040.¶
Calls for transformative climate and environmental policies, and for the incoming Commission to align all proposals with 1.5°C and address policy inconsistencies.¶¶¶
Calls for nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, and full implementation of the Nature Restoration Law to increase resilience.¶¶¶
Calls for enhanced adaptation efforts at local and regional levels, including through the Covenant of Mayors and climate dialogues.¶
Calls for increased funding for UCPM, rescEU, and EUSF, and for broadening EUSF scope to support climate-resilient restoration.¶¶¶
Calls for a substantial increase in the next MFF for emergency services and reconstruction, and for a gender perspective and measures for climate-displaced people.¶¶¶

Who is affected

Affected regions in Poland, Romania, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia, and their residents.¶¶¶
Emergency workers and rescue teams, who are commended for their efforts.¶
Vulnerable groups including senior citizens, children, those in poor health, economically disadvantaged, and farmers.¶
Developing nations, which the EU should support in mitigation and adaptation.¶
Women and people of marginalised genders, who are impacted hardest by climate change.¶

Figures and deadlines

At least 18 people have lost their lives due to the floods.¶
2023 was the warmest year on record, with temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.5°C.¶
Economic losses from coastal floods could exceed EUR 1 trillion per year.¶
One in eight Europeans live in areas potentially prone to river flooding.¶
Over EUR 100 billion of cohesion policy resources will be invested in energy transition by 2030.¶

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.