Spain is, with Portugal And Slovakiaone of the countries that did not show up at the European Commission updating flood risk plans. SO, Therese Ribera postponed during his mandate at the head of the Ministry of Ecological Transition sending new maps with the points most at risk of flooding, certain data Brussels considers the basis for developing flood risk management plans that prevent disasters such as DANA which caused the death of more than 200 people in the Valencian Community.
“EU countries must create and update flood risk maps and flood risk maps. Flood risk maps should cover geographic areas likely to be flooded and flood risk maps. must show the possible adverse consequences linked to these flooding scenarios. Flood risk management is an integral part of integrated river basin management. The Floods Directive is therefore closely coordinated with the Water Framework Directive. In particular, it coordinates flood risk management plans, basin hydrological plans and public participation procedures,” warns the European Union.
THE Water Framework Directive2000, aims to guarantee good qualitative and quantitative health of European water bodies, such as rivers and lakes. Its goal is to reduce and eliminate pollution, as well as ensure that there is enough water to meet the needs of humans and wildlife. And compliance with the Floods Directive, 2007is essential for the preparation and management of river floods.
The water standard requires EU countries to update and report every six years on their river basin management plans, with a program of measures to ensure the good condition or potential of all water masses. In addition, Member States must also update and notify their flood risk management plans every six years, which are essential to achieve the objectives of the Floods Directive, namely to reduce and manage the risks that River floods take a toll on human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.
Thus, according to the latest data processed by the European Commission, Spain, Portugal And Slovakia These are the countries furthest behind in providing this data. Concretely, these three countries have already concluded the public consultation of their data, but have not informed Brussels of the actions of their second disaster and flood risk management plan. In this way, while the rest of the Member States have already announced and implemented these plans, Teresa Ribera’s ministry has relegated Spain to the last rank of EU countries in terms of flood prevention.
File on Teresa Ribera
The European Commission has opened a infraction file against Spain last February for not having presented the updated flood risk planin accordance with the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and Directive 2007/60/EC. The PP questioned the Community Executive on this subject. The third Vice-President of the Government and Minister of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the socialist Therese Riberanow a candidate for the post of European Commissioner, has been accused of not having fully informed Brussels of its third basin hydrological plan and its second flood risk management plan, which must be communicated every six yearsdenounces the PP.
These directives, according to the People’s Party, guarantee “the qualitative and quantitative good health” of European rivers and lakes and constitute an essential element of the European Green Dealwhich sets targets for reducing climate and pollution. According to them, states must update and report on their basin hydrological plans every six years, as well as prevention programs floods.
According to the text of the Floods Directive, flood risk management plans should focus on prevention, protection and preparedness. “Elements of flood risk management plans must reviewed periodically and updated as necessary.taking into account the probable repercussions of climate change on the incidence of flooding”, underlines the PP.
