The European Commission is preparing a satellite emergency alert system, using Galileo, which will allow citizens to be notified even in the event of a total blackout. Brussels admits that the EU is not prepared for extreme weather phenomena
The European Commission is preparing a satellite communication system that will allow all European Union citizens to be alerted in the event of an emergency, even in the event of a total blackout, it was announced in Strasbourg.
In a debate in the European Parliament (EP) on extreme weather phenomena, particularly in Portugal, southern Italy, Malta and Greece, the European Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness and Management, Hadja Lahbib, said that, “through the Galileo satellite system, it will soon be possible to send messages to all EU citizens in the event of an emergency, even if there is a total blackout”.
The commissioner acknowledged that current policies are no longer up to the task of catastrophes: “We need prevention, repair and recovery, more and better adapted instruments” and, in this sense, Brussels will soon present an integrated climate strategy and a communication on combating forest fires.
In this Tuesday’s debate, the community executive established that the EU “is not sufficiently prepared for the impacts” of natural disasters, which pose “increasing challenges”, arguing that it is “need to think beyond the immediate response, to the long-term consequences”.
In this sense, the commissioner added that, given the risk of forest fires next summer, the community executive is preparing a “communication on fighting fires and risk management”.
“Unfortunately, we know that these tragic events in Spain, Portugal, Malta and Greece will not be the last of this magnitude”, said Lahbib, highlighting that Brussels “is also preparing an integrated strategy for climate resilience with measures for people and companies, which brings more clarity and information about the risks specific to each Member State”.
The commissioner highlighted that the EU is ready to help Member States recently affected by storms, also mentioning that the fight against climate change can be reinforced with funds from Cohesion, agricultural policy, the European social fund, the Eramus+ program, particularly in the qualification of intervention forces towards recovery.
“The EU must improve preparation, combine national forces with European coordination to better respond to needs in the face of extreme meteorological phenomena”, defended the commissioner.
In the debate, Portuguese MEPs intervened, with Lídia Pereira (PSD) highlighting that “extreme events are no longer the exception” and warning that, “if times have changed, political action must also change”.
João Cotrim Figueiredo (IL) suggested the creation of a European plan for adaptation to natural disasters and the strengthening of the European solidarity mechanism.
MEP João Oliveira (PCP) expressed “incomprehension regarding the absence of a request for assistance” by the Lisbon Government to the European Civil Protection Mechanism and asked for “fundamental measures” and financial support mechanisms beyond the Recovery and Resilience Program.
Marta Temido (PS) recalled that the Mediterranean basin and the Iberian Peninsula have become “zone zero of Europe’s climate crisis: we live between devastating fires and catastrophic floods” and considered that national coordination is essential, “whatever the European mechanism behind it”.
MEP Tiago Moreira de Sá (Chega) highlighted that, in emergency situations, “European support must be faster, more effective and less bureaucratic”, also mentioning that “when populations need immediate help, the response cannot be held hostage by bureaucracy, slow procedures or administrative calendars”.
Catarina Martins (BE) pointed the finger at “a majority of irresponsible people” in the EP who “backtrack on all climate commitments”, calling on the EU “to live up to the enormous solidarity movement”, particularly in Portugal.
Fifteen people have died in Portugal since January 28 following the passage of depressions Kristin, Leonardo and Marta, which also caused many hundreds of injuries and displacement.
This morning, 35 thousand E-Redes customers were still without electricity supply as a result of the bad weather.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, the fall of trees and structures, the closure of roads, schools and transport services, and the cut of energy, water and communications, floods and floods are the main material consequences of the storm.
The Centre, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo regions are the most affected and the Government extended the calamity situation until the 15th for 68 municipalities and announced support measures of up to 2.5 billion euros.
