Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib delivered closing remarks in the European Parliament ENVI Committee on Europe’s response to the summer wildfires.
Lahbib said crisis preparedness must be handled across the whole Commission, linking resilience, agriculture, industry, competitiveness and climate adaptation. She stressed that wildfire policy cannot be treated in isolation, but must be addressed through a broader and more holistic approach.
She said the Commission is working on a climate adaptation plan and warned that Europe must “build smartly” and “adapt smartly” — from urban construction to forest management and other vulnerable sectors.
Lahbib underlined that her portfolio is not only about responding to disasters, but about prediction, anticipation and crisis prevention.
She said Europe continues to learn from every fire by listening to firefighters, farmers, citizens, local politicians, mayors and authorities, bringing data together and improving reports and response systems.
Lahbib warned that Europe is already paying a human and economic price from extreme heat, pointing to heatwaves, loss of life and abnormally high mortality rates in several countries.
She also made clear that the EU cannot simply activate the Civil Protection Mechanism on its own. Member States must request assistance, though she suggested that countries may need to act faster and be less reluctant to ask for help.
Lahbib called for better communication before crises create fear, saying Europe needs an all-of-society approach involving citizens, media, Parliament and national authorities.
She warned that crisis centres are delivering extraordinary results “on a shoestring” and argued for a stronger hub capable of anticipating cascading risks across energy, transport, hospitals, health and the economy.
Her closing message was clear: Europe needs a sufficient budget not just for planes and trucks, but for planning, anticipation and prevention — because the goal must be to stop crises before they become disasters.
#eudebates #Wildfires #ClimateCrisis #EUPreparedness
European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib delivered closing remarks in the European Parliament ENVI Committee on Europe’s response to the summer wildfires.
Lahbib said crisis preparedness must be handled across the whole Commission, linking resilience, agriculture, industry, competitiveness and climate adaptation. She stressed that wildfire policy cannot be treated in isolation, but must be addressed through a broader and more holistic approach.
She said the Commission is working on a climate adaptation plan and warned that Europe must “build smartly” and “adapt smartly” — from urban construction to forest management and other vulnerable sectors.
Lahbib underlined that her portfolio is not only about responding to disasters, but about prediction, anticipation and crisis prevention.
She said Europe continues to learn from every fire by listening to firefighters, farmers, citizens, local politicians, mayors and authorities, bringing data together and improving reports and response systems.
Lahbib warned that Europe is already paying a human and economic price from extreme heat, pointing to heatwaves, loss of life and abnormally high mortality rates in several countries.
She also made clear that the EU cannot simply activate the Civil Protection Mechanism on its own. Member States must request assistance, though she suggested that countries may need to act faster and be less reluctant to ask for help.
Lahbib called for better communication before crises create fear, saying Europe needs an all-of-society approach involving citizens, media, Parliament and national authorities.
She warned that crisis centres are delivering extraordinary results “on a shoestring” and argued for a stronger hub capable of anticipating cascading risks across energy, transport, hospitals, health and the economy.
Her closing message was clear: Europe needs a sufficient budget not just for planes and trucks, but for planning, anticipation and prevention — because the goal must be to stop crises before they become disasters.
#eudebates #Wildfires #ClimateCrisis #EUPreparedness
