In a European Parliament debate yesterday evening on how the EU can better prevent and manage floods, GUE/NGL MEPs highlighted the failures of current policy.

Portuguse MEP João Ferreira said: “Heavy rain is not necessarily synonymous with flooding. Stopping flooding is down to people and the policies that are put in place, such as soil and land use and a lack of preventative measures. You also need structural prevention measures and in many of our cities this has not happened, for example the concreting over of land where water cannot drain away properly.

“We need proper levels of public investment to ensure effective draining systems. We need good civil protection, we need proper water authorities, and we cannot simply ignore these problems.”

Greek MEP Manolis Glezos said: “20 years ago today the Commission's environment directorate sent guidelines on floods to all member states. I would like to know why those guidelines are not applied anymore. We shouldn't just stand by while these disasters happen.”

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
European United Left / Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group