EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION ON UK FLOODS - MEP DEMANDS EU ACTION

2.29.29pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Sep 2007

West Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has led calls in a European Parliament resolution to be voted today for stronger measures to prevent natural disasters, including more financial aid for flood defences and infrastructure and better sharing of best practice in flood management among EU countries, in the light of the recent severe flooding that hit the UK.

The European Parliament's resolution, co tabled by Liz Lynne on behalf of the Liberal and Democrat Group, criticises the lack of coordination in disaster relief between Member States and calls on the European Commission to reform the EU's Solidarity Fund to ensure the threshold for applying for emergency aid is reduced and that applications for emergency money are processed quickly.

Speaking from Strasbourg today Liz said:

"This summer has been one of the worst in memory, with extreme weather causing misery for millions of people across the European Union."

"The message from the European Parliament is clear; the UK must be better prepared, we must share best practice and research with other EU Member States and above all the UK must put money and research into flood defences, in the light of increasingly extreme climate events."

"The EU must now consider seriously a European force that can immediately react to emergencies in any Member State and ensure that when funds and other support are needed they are available."

"Liz also criticised the Government for failing to supply adequate resources for flood protection and drainage after it emerged that Gordon Brown last year reduced funding for flood protection by £14million. Liz was herself stranded in her Worcestershire village as flooding engulfed the West Midlands."

"As Chancellor - Gordon Brown failed to see this coming and listen to climate change warnings - unbelievably cutting the flood defense budget by £14 million last summer"

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Liz Lynne MEP co tabled a Joint European Parliament resolution on natural disasters in the EU on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe. The resolution will be voted on in the European Parliament today.

Liz Lynne previously raised the issue of EU funds for the West Midlands region with the European Commission, asking a parliamentary question on the issue and writing to Hazel Blears MP, the Minister then responsible for the regions after the last set of floods in June.