Grande-Marlaska calls for strengthening European civil protection systems to prevent risks such as forest fires

2022.9.5

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Grande-Marlaska defended as a European priority the reinforcement of civil protection systems, both at national and EU level, given that "the impact of the risks in our society, increased by phenomena such as climate change, are a clear, direct and growing threat to people's safety."

In this regard, Grande Marlaska has called for policies that focus on prevention, that anticipate these threats and that advocate a greater investment of resources in the previous phases.

"This is the path that Spain has embarked on," said the minister, "and that is why we are already working on reinforcing our National Civil Protection System by increasing the means available, but also, and substantially, by creating a culture of self-protection among our citizens, which promotes the resilience of society as a whole."

The third vice-president of the Spanish government, Teresa Ribera, pointed out that "all scientific projections based on climate scenarios anticipate an increase in the risk of fires in Europe."

"The EU and its member states need to accelerate the strengthening of their operational capacity to respond to forest fires by prioritising prevention and preparedness measures in European policies and budgets," she added.

A benchmark in the fight against forest fires

This summer, Europe has suffered one of the worst waves of forest fires in decades. In the case of Spain, more than 247,000 hectares have burned so far and the fires have forced the evacuation of more than 30,000 people.

In spite of this, the Minister for Home Affairs highlighted the good performance of the Spanish firefighting systems, which have managed to tackle the more than 7,800 forest fires recorded without the need to resort to external capabilities: "We have been able to respond with our means, mobilising our national capacities across the different regions of the country."

In any case, the minister wanted to thank the Emergency Response and Coordination Centre (ERCC) for the support received in monitoring the various emergencies that have occurred, and expressed his confidence that the situation will return to normal so that Spain can once again make its capabilities available to the EU rescue initiative.

Strengthening European capacities

During his speech, Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska called for the strengthening of the European Civil Protection Mechanism so that the rescEU project can extend its action, in addition to forest fires, to other risks.

Furthermore, Marlaska has shown our country's willingness to receive more European capabilities, as well as to ensure their training and education in our territory.

The aim is to "boost Europe's civil protection systems so that it remains the safest area in the world and to reaffirm our commitment to the safety of its citizens from disasters."

To this end, the minister said, cohesion and resilience funds and recovery funds will have to be dedicated, "and we must do this not only for emergency response, for interventions, but also - or above all - for the previous phases, in particular prevention."

Non official translation

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