Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-000249/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Diego Solier (ECR), Nora Junco García (ECR)
The Spanish Government’s failure to apply to the EU Solidarity Fund to address the damage caused by the October–November 2024 DANA (severe flash flooding) reflects a worrying administrative laziness that puts the interests of Valencian citizens, and the country as a whole, at risk. Despite the fact that the Commission confirmed the availability of this mechanism, Spain has unjustifiably delayed its application, exhausting the regulatory deadline of 12 weeks. This contrasts with the diligence of other countries, such as Germany and Italy, which activated this fund in 2023 to respond swiftly to similar disasters.
This delay not only denotes inefficient management, but also exposes affected communities to further hardship while the timeline for gaining access to necessary resources is prolonged. Moreover, it is unacceptable to publicly contradict each other on the state of affairs, as demonstrated by the official letter from the Commission Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms. Valencians deserve a government committed to their welfare, not excuses and delays.
In view of this:
- 1.Does the Commission plan to improve control mechanisms to ensure that EU Solidarity Fund resources are requested and managed efficiently?
- 2.What is the Commission’s assessment of the impact of the Spanish Government’s delay in applying for these funds on the communities affected by the DANA?
Submitted: 21.1.2025