Brussels – The EU is mobilizing to provide relief to Spain and the citizens of Valencia, which, on Oct. 29, was hit by devastating floods. Following the request from Madrid, Brussels has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, through which it can channel resources from other capitals to the affected country. “We already have received several offers from various member states. We are waiting for Spain’s approval,” a European Commission spokesman said today (Nov. 11).
Meanwhile, anger erupted in the capital of the Valencian Community over how the regional government handled the hours immediately preceding the disaster, which claimed the lives of 222 people. Saturday night, over a hundred thousand people filled the center of Valencia to protest against the right-wing junta led by Carlos Mazon of the Popular Party (PP), demanding his resignation.
Madrid also came under scrutiny. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who faced strong protests last week in Paiporta, promised that “the government is there and will be there, with all the necessary resources, and for as long as necessary.” Sanchez announced in the morning a new package of nearly 3.8 billion euros of support measures for the population, following an initial 10.6 billion euros unveiled recently.
According to the European Commission spokesperson in charge of crisis management, Balasz Ujvari, Madrid has reportedly requested two types of assistance: emergency materials such as tents, sanitation supplies, and machinery to clean up flooded areas, and human resources, especially experts in waste management and logistics. Ujvari explained that Spanish authorities are verifying if the assistance offered by EU countries matches the needs on the ground. At that point, the civil protection mechanism will set aid in motion.
What is the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Instituted in 2001 by the Commission, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is the tool through which the 27 member countries and nine other participating states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine) can strengthen cooperation in preventing, preparing for, and responding to disasters, particularly natural ones. One or more national authorities may request activation of the Mechanism when an emergency exceeds the response capacities of individual affected countries.
The Commission coordinates the solidarity response of other participants with a single point of contact, contributing at least three-quarters of the operational costs of search and rescue and firefighting efforts. This way, the best skills of rescue teams are pooled, avoiding duplication of efforts. Since 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated over 700 times.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
