The European Commission linked climate change to the recent severe floods in the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy and urged stronger prevention measures to lessen the impact of such disasters, which are becoming increasingly frequent.
An official noted that what was once described as floods occurring every century has changed. They are now more common and could happen each year or two, a shift discussed in an interview with Europa Press and other agencies, including the European Newsroom, as Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič spoke about the evolving risk.
In the wake of last week’s devastating floods in Emilia Romagna, Lenarčič outlined Europe’s response, highlighting nine emergency offers that accompanied Italy as authorities activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism at midnight between Saturday and Sunday.
more and more often
The crisis chief warned that Europe is living through a climate crisis and must adapt to a new normal characterized by heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and more extreme weather events. While the Civil Protection Mechanism was activated about twenty times annually a few decades ago, the need to coordinate relief efforts was far higher last year as disasters surged in frequency and severity.
Facing a situation shaped by irreversible climatic changes, the European Union is urged to expand its preparedness capacity. This involves improving forecasting, issuing timely alerts, mounting rapid responses, and ensuring that operations remain effective under stressed conditions.
“We can alleviate this”
The Slovenian commissioner explained that while it is not possible to prevent heat waves, droughts, or floods, their effects can be mitigated. Looking ahead, he argued that the EU must strengthen the budget line for crisis management so the bloc can better anticipate and respond to such events.
The EU has already secured an additional funding instrument to cope with the pandemic and the humanitarian repercussions of broader security challenges, demonstrating a pattern of annual increases in civil protection and humanitarian aid allocations. The goal is clear: provide sustained support that can adapt to evolving risks rather than reacting after a disaster. The Commission has indicated a continuous need for reinforcement funds to maintain a robust civil protection framework, aiming to avoid yearly shortfalls and ensure a steady financial footing for preventive and response measures.
Since the 2020 accession of Ursula von der Leyen, there has been a consistent push to expand and modernize the resources allocated to relief and resilience. In practical terms, this means bolstering staffing, equipment, and cross-border coordination so Europe can act faster when disasters strike. The overarching message is that proactive investment in preparedness now reduces costs and human suffering in the future, even as climate pressures intensify and events become more widespread.
In European circles, the consensus is that the current episode in Emilia Romagna underscores the necessity of a Europe-wide approach. Shared data, common response protocols, and a reliable funding stream are seen as essential to mounting an effective, coordinated shield for member states facing climate-driven emergencies. The focus is not only on reacting to floods but on building resilience across sectors, from urban planning and critical infrastructure to agriculture and emergency communications. Attribution for these observations typically points to the European Commission and related crisis management offices, which have drawn on recent field data and international cooperation efforts to shape policy directions and financing priorities.