The MEP Nikos Androulakis stressed in plenary of the European Parliament on the natural disasters that struck Europe during the summer the need for a comprehensive recovery plan with development projects in North Evia to avoid its desertification.
The following is the full text of his speech:
Last summer was marked by deadly floods in Central Europe and forest fires in the Mediterranean countries. In Greece, at least 9 times more areas were destroyed than last year. The burned acres far exceeded one million and its entire area North Evia endangered by desertification. This requires a comprehensive restoration plan with development projects such as a modern road axis to better connect the area.
Due to climate change, dangerous weather events will be more frequent and stronger with natural disasters increasing and threatening us on a permanent basis.
The mobilization of the European Civil Protection Mechanism has helped to reduce the consequences. Thousands of firefighters from many European countries mobilized to give the word solidarity, which we so desperately need in these difficult times. Let's look to the future. A lot has happened in recent years but we have to fight to make more.
Firstly, we need to proceed immediately with the joint order of Canadair firefighting aircraft, in order to start the production line and to substantially strengthen the means we have at European and National level.
Secondly, we need to put more emphasis on prevention, so that States are better prepared, taking advantage of the potential and funding available to upgrade national civil protection plans.
Thirdly, the limitations of the Solidarity Fund regarding the conditions for its activation, the percentage of support and the type of disasters covered, reduce its effectiveness. It is therefore necessary to create a new fund that will be in charge of rehabilitating the effects of climate change.
photo Basilispanagou,
- CC BY-SA 4.0, https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9D%CE%AF%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%91%CE%BD%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%82#/media/%CE%91%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF:Nikos_Androulakis_PASOK.jpg
