Brussels, 29/08/2002 (Agence Europe) - In a statement released on 23 August, the Comité européen des assurances (CEA, representing the insurance industry in Europe) announces that European insurers have taken measures to speed up assessment and settlement procedures for the claims filed by the victims of the recent floods in central Europe. The European insurance lobby states that the financial strength of the European insurance industry is not endangered by the floods. It adds that it is studying the problem of flood risk management and calls for a preventive approach to this problem at European level. For optimal risk analysis, points out the CEA, there should be a partnership between the private and public sectors entailing the sharing of research results, data and resources. Moreover, the CEA is of the view that systematic European action on climate change is needed, in particular an in-depth analysis of its causes and consequences, and it notes that the Kyoto protocol provisions need to be implemented to protect the environment effectively.