The effectiveness and speed of Europe's response to natural and man-made disasters should be increased in the future, thanks to the strengthening of the EU's civil protection mechanism, to which the European Parliament subscribed on Tuesday 12 February in Strasbourg.
By an overwhelming majority (620 votes in favour, 22 against, 35 abstentions), MEPs validated the provisional interinstitutional agreement reached in December on the proposal for a decision to improve disaster prevention through cooperation and to create RescEU, a reserve of resources to help Member States cope with forest fires, floods, health emergencies or terrorist attacks when their own civil protection resources are not sufficient (see EUROPE 12159).
The capacity reserve (Canadair aircraft, field hospitals, emergency medical teams), 75% co-financed by the EU, would not replace the primary competence of the Member States. It would only be used as a last resort. The Commission will play a coordinating role.
"We managed to work quickly to be ready before next summer and avoid another Greece 2018 and Portugal 2017. Effective means and tools were needed to save lives”, said rapporteur Elisabetta Gardini (EPP, Italy). During the debate before the vote, everyone remembered the deadly forest fires in these two countries.
“You can't go it alone,” said José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, Portugal). He stressed that RescEU, with a budget of €200 million for 2019-2020, will not be expensive. “Until now, with a voluntary system, it was not solidarity that was lacking, but the means that were lacking”, according to Carlos Zorrinho (S&D, Portugal).
The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, recalled that it had not been easy to convince Member States. “We are embarking on a new era of civil protection in Europe", he said, delighted. And he assured MEPs that he is working with Member States to launch the transition phase as soon as possible so that the deployment of RescEU will be possible in 2019. The way is clear for the adoption of the decision by the Council. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)