Source: European Parliament
Cohesion policy supports disaster prevention and preparedness measures in the 2021-2027 period, including those addressing flood risk. Moreover, as indicated in the Common Provisions Regulation[1], all EU-funded infrastructure that has an expected lifespan of at least 5 years must undergo a climate proofing assessment.
This procedure, carried out at the project level, ensures that new infrastructure is adapted to the climate risks of the territory, including, in certain cases, to flood risk.
The Commission is also aware of the need to address the increasingly frequent and intense climate-related disasters. Therefore, RESTORE (Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction)[2] provides additional assistance to Member States affected by disasters in 2024 and 2025, helping them to quickly mobilise cohesion policy funds for disaster reconstruction and resilience interventions.
It should be noted that under shared management, it is the Member States responsibility to select and carry out the projects that are in line with the programme agreed with the Commission, and that all resources must be used before the end of 2029.
Discussion between the Commission and the Member States on progress of investments takes place regularly in the context of the monitoring committees, which must take place at least once a year for every programme, and of the annual review meeting of all programmes once a year.
In addition, under the Floods Directive[3], all EU countries are required to assess all areas where significant floods could take place, map the flood extent, assets and humans at risk in these areas and take adequate and coordinated measures to reduce this flood risk.
- [1] Article 73(2) — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02021R1060-20240630
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/whats-new/newsroom/18-12-2024-commission-welcomes-adoption-of-restore-proposal-helping-member-states-recover-from-climate-related-disasters_en
- [3] Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks.