Brussels – On Wednesday, the European Parliament observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the victims of the recent flooding caused by DANA in eastern and southern Spain, particularly in the Valencian Community.
This commemoration was proposed by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who remarked that Europe feels “in shock” and “in grief” for those who perished in the floods.
In a statement made in Spanish, Metsola affirmed, “The European Parliament supports Spain in these difficult times,” and expressed that the institution is ready to aid in reconstruction initiatives.
Metsola also pointed out the Parliament’s determination to facilitate recovery by improving the flexibility of financial support mechanisms to lessen the disaster’s effects. She stressed the necessity of providing aid to the victims while also emphasizing the importance of enhancing preparedness and tackling the climate crisis.
During the talks, the European Commission designated DANA as a “stark reminder” of the urgent climate crisis, highlighting that the “safety of citizens is increasingly jeopardized” by climate change.
“Extreme weather occurrences should prompt us to reflect not only on the impact of climate change on future generations but also on how we can ready ourselves today, as the urgency is already evident,” declared European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Janez Lenarcic in the discussion regarding DANA.
While Lenarcic refrained from addressing disaster management, he assured that EU assistance would be forthcoming. However, the dialogue was characterized by friction between the Popular Party (PP) and the Socialist Party (PSOE).
The Popular Party accused the third vice president of the Government and candidate for European commissioner, Teresa Ribera, of being responsible for the consequences of DANA and demanded her removal as Spain’s representative to the European Commission. In return, the PSOE directed their criticism towards the president of the Valencian Generalitat, Carlos Mazón.
This scenario led to a blending of national politics into European issues, as the PP leveraged the response to DANA to justify their opposition to confirming Ribera as vice president of the Commission, despite Brussels stating that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen continues to trust her.
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