Speech by Commissioner Lahbib to the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety in the European Parliament

Speech by Commissioner Lahbib to the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety in the EP

The Ebola outbreak in Uganda and DRC continues to spread at a rate faster than the response. Conflict in the Middle East is hitting the global economy, driving up fuel prices. Here at home, Europe is facing a series of crises: record wildfires, devastating floods, and new health threats.

Last summer, more than one million hectares burned across Europe, the worst wildfire season on record. This year, the fires have started earlier again. We saw severe flooding in Southern Europe, including from Cyclone Harry in January. Through our Civil Protection Mechanism, we helped evacuate EU citizens following the hantavirus outbreak.

These are not isolated events. They are part of a new reality. We are living in an era of overlapping crises. Preparedness is not a luxury. It is our shared responsibility.

The European Commission has taken action across many fronts this past year and we have delivered:

• Our Preparedness Union Strategy,
• The proposal for a regulation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Union support for health emergency preparedness and response,
• The EU Stockpiling Strategy,
• The Medical Countermeasures Strategy,
• And the Water Resilience Strategy.

We have also stepped up work on wildfire risk management and on broader climate resilience.

Our Preparedness Union Strategy is a cornerstone of our work. It is making Europe safer.

One year after its adoption, it is already helping us respond to faster and more complex risks, from cyberattacks and sabotage to pandemics, disinformation, supply chain disruption and extreme weather. We are working closely with Member States, the private sector, and civil society to turn this Strategy into action.

Three areas of progress stand out.

First, preparedness by design. We have embedded it into EU policymaking and funding, including the current budget, allowing Member States to direct cohesion funds to civil preparedness, dual-use, and defence-related projects.

In the next MFF, we are proposing even stronger investment. But this only works if preparedness is backed politically and funded properly.

Second, strategic stockpiling. Through the EU Stockpiling Strategy, we are building coordinated reserves of critical supplies. This will strengthen our strategic autonomy in times of crisis. Reinforcing rescEU and expanding its capacity will also require adequate funding in the next European budget.

Third, turning risk awareness into operational readiness. We are developing a Comprehensive Risk and Threat Assessment, the first to bring climate, security, health, and technology risks into one coherent picture. We will present it later this year.

We are also developing EU Minimum Preparedness Requirements, concrete, prioritised targets that strengthen civil-military cooperation and protect critical infrastructure. Member States will play a central role in shaping them, while ensuring coherence with NATO and existing EU frameworks.

Preparedness is not only about institutions. It is about people. We are raising awareness and strengthening citizens' ability to respond to crises, promoting a minimum of 72 hours of self-sufficiency, integrating preparedness into education, and supporting youth engagement through the European Solidarity Corps.

Our Citizens' Panel make sure that citizens' voices contribute to our efforts. In June, we will launch the first EU-supported exchange for young firefighters.

We are also deepening cooperation with the private sector because resilience cannot be built by governments alone. Our Task Force on preparedness will strengthen this cooperation.

Negotiations continue with both the Council and the Parliament on the proposal for a regulation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Union support for health emergency preparedness and response.

This proposal introduces a stronger health emergency dimension, improved cross-sectoral crisis coordination through a new Crisis Coordination Hub, reinforced civil-military cooperation, and stronger response capacity.

We have proposed a budget of 10.7 billion euros, with the flexibility to act fast when crises strike.

Two elements are key. Better coordination across sectors, so we can spot risks earlier, prepare better, and respond faster through a dedicated Crisis Coordination Hub. Closer cooperation with the military, whose expertise and capabilities can make a real difference when crises hit. I am confident that we can reach an agreement soon. I count on your support.

Now let me turn to health.

Climate change is not only an environmental challenge. It is a public health challenge. Europe is the fastest-warming continent. We are already seeing the consequences: heatwaves, floods, and the growing spread of disease. Last year, we saw record numbers of mosquito-borne infections.

Through our Medical Countermeasures Strategy, we are strengthening our ability to detect, prevent, and respond. Better control of vector-borne diseases, more investment in antimicrobial resistance, and new treatments for diseases like dengue.

This is our One Health approach. Human, animal, and environmental health are inseparable, and our preparedness strategy treats them that way. Adequate and flexible funding is essential to make these initiatives a reality. Your support, especially in the next long-term EU budget, will be crucial.

Let me also say a word about climate resilience. Europe is not yet ready for the climate risks ahead. Even under the most optimistic scenarios, those risks will grow. Our infrastructure, our economy, and our communities remain exposed.

That is why the Commission will present a new European Climate Resilience Framework later this year to embed resilience across EU policies, improve risk awareness, and support smarter planning. Our Water Resilience Strategy adopted last year, sets out over 50 concrete actions. We are already putting it into action.

Finally, let me say a word about wildfires. Yesterday, together with Commissioner Roswall I presented the Wildfire Communication to this Committee.

The Communication puts forward a comprehensive approach to tackling wildfires, from stronger governance and better land management to research and preparedness at all levels. Earlier this month, we adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation to maintain political momentum and support Member States across the full disaster risk cycle.

The outlook for this summer is concerning. Forecasts show above-average temperatures across much of Europe. Our Civil Protection Mechanism has already been activated twice this year, earlier than ever before. And we are ready.

We have pre-positioned 770 firefighters in high-risk regions, deployed a rescEU aircraft fleet, and reinforced real-time monitoring through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre.

We are stepping up to meet today's more complex challenges.

Preparedness is no longer a niche issue. It is a strategic necessity for our security, our prosperity, and the safety of our citizens. We have made real progress. But we must do more together. European institutions, Member States, the private sector, and our citizens.

We cannot prevent every crisis. But we can see risks coming, prepare together, reduce their impact, and recover faster. That is the Europe we are building together.