TIME TO STEP UP DISASTER RESPONSE CAPACITY

10.30.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 20th Jun 2008

The EU desperately needs to step up its ability to respond effectively to natural disasters such as last summer's floods, according to European Parliament report adopted today.

Liz Lynne MEP, who sits on the European Parliament's Development Committee, voted in favour of the report and ensured through amendments that flooding was mentioned as a key action point, in the light of the catastrophic 2007 floods across central and northern England.

She said:

"Cooperation on disaster prevention and response across the EU is about working together and pooling our resources to save lives and minimise infrastructure damage. Our climate is changing and extreme weather is becoming more common so a comprehensive strategy, including a rapid reaction force, can't come soon enough.

"Last summer's floods were a disaster but they were also a wake-up call which could have turned out far worse. Training and exchange of best practice with our neighbours are badly needed so we can avoid a repeat of the mobile flood defences which were stuck in an M5 traffic jam because the carriageway flooded.

"EU countries also need to have key resources available at short notice so in the future people are not left stranded on roofs for hours because of a shortage of helicopters. We have to remember that the people touched by disasters are not concerned where help comes from, as long as it gets the job done."