EP discussed better protection of monuments from weather extremes

Strasbourg - Today, Members of the European Parliament debated with a representative of the European Commission in plenary in Strasbourg about how to better protect European cities and monuments from extreme weather. They paid particular attention to the Italian city of Venice, which has faced unprecedented flooding in recent weeks.

European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides stated at the outset that climate change has a significant impact on extreme weather events, which are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity. He noted that "tropical hurricanes are moving as far as the Irish shores" and referred to the flooding in Venice, which damaged cultural heritage.

The Commissioner believes that the EU should be able to respond better to such disasters and also implement more preventive measures. In this context, Stylianides highlighted existing mechanisms, such as the EU Solidarity Fund to assist affected areas or the European Early Warning System. The Commissioner also spoke about the European satellite mapping system, which can help better estimate the extent of damage caused by weather fluctuations. He subsequently expressed hope that the new European Commission, set to begin its work at the start of December, would also address these issues.

MEP Antonio Tajani noted that Italy currently needs significant solidarity from the European community and rapid release of funds from the Solidarity Fund for the areas affected by the floods. MEP Simona Bonafè reminded that there are nearly 400 UNESCO protected sites in Europe, emphasizing that it is not enough to respond to the consequences of extreme weather phenomena, but it is necessary to better prevent them.

MEP Rosanna Conte emphasized that "Venice belongs not only to Italy, but to all of Europe and the whole world", as it embodies humanism. In this context, she also added that the release of funds from the Solidarity Fund takes too long, and it would therefore be better to create new special funds from which regions could draw faster.

According to MEP Sabrina Pignedoli, the situation that has occurred in Venice is likely to repeat itself, and it is therefore necessary for Europe to truly invest in "ecological transition" and focus on the development and research of new technologies.