On Saturday 2 November, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared that his government was “in communication with the European Commission” and that it had “begun the procedures to request aid from the EU Solidarity Fund and to use other Community support resources”, following the terrible floods that have left more than 200 people dead and many missing in the Valencia region.
The head of the Spanish government thanked all the authorities, all the institutions, Community and national, and beyond the European Union for the messages of immense solidarity received. “The president of the European Commission and the presidents of the European Council and the European Parliament have told me of their solidarity and determination to use these mechanisms to support Spain”, added Pedro Sánchez. “We have helped our European brothers and sisters when they needed it, and now they are going to help us”, assured the Spanish prime minister.
Civil protection. On Monday, the European Commission insisted on its willingness to help Spain deal with the consequences of the floods, following the visit to Brussels of Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares.
Mr Albares discussed with Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič “the resources and instruments to provide support and reconstruction after” the disaster, the Spanish minister said in a message posted on social networks. The aim is to identify the type of assistance and resources that the Commission can provide in this context.
For the time being, Spain has not submitted a request to activate the ‘Civil Protection Mechanism’, the instrument with which the EU coordinates sending emergency aid to a Member State overwhelmed by a natural disaster. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)