A group of European Committee of the Regions' members from NAT and ENVE commissions participated in a study visit to the different reconstruction sites around Valencia after last autumn's flooding disaster that claimed 236 lives and caused enormous material damage.
The sites visited by the delegation included the Murtal ravine in Godelleta, the reconstruction site of the CV-36 viaduct, Quart-Manises waste transfer point where more than 50,000 tons of flooding-related waste have already been processed, Albufera natural park and orange plantations in Alcàsser. These projects have been funded by the regional ministry for Environment in Valencia.
The CoR delegation was led by NAT chair Piotr Calbecki (PL/EPP), Marshal of Kujawsko-Pomorskie. Members were received by Carlos Mazón, President of the Autonomous Community of Valencia and CoR member (ES/EPP).
"The purpose of this study visit was to focus on how we can build resilience and recovery in the face of increasing climate-related disasters. It is precisely in regions that have faced tragedy that we must learn what worked, what failed, and how to do better," NAT chair Calbecki said. He added "Extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, are no longer exceptional — they are the new reality across Europe. Mayors and regional leaders are on the frontline, and their task is to ensure that our cities and regions are more resilient and better adapted to the climate crisis. The European Union has shown its solidarity with the people of Valencia since the beginning of the crisis, mobilizing emergency funding and support for reconstruction"
From his end Carlos Mazón, President of the Autonomous Community of València said "The Region of Valencia needs to stand back on its feet as soon as possible—for its own sake, but also for the good of Spain and all of Europe. We need every possible action that can be undertaken. European solidarity is key at this moment. Your presence among us strengthens that premise of unity, that commitment to the future—and to the present—that Spain urgently needs, and it also shows the fraternity among regions that Europe must now demonstrate more than ever."
Mazón added that in the past eight months, the regional Government deployed or committed €2.4 billion through reconstruction contracts, direct non-repayable aid to those affected, and funds to grant interest-free loans for the recovery of businesses and the self-employed. As part of the “València Recovery Plan", the Ministry of the Environment in València has mobilized more than €600 million.
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The floods in Spain in the end of October caused the deaths of 236 people in the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia. The region of Valencia was by far the most affected with 228 deaths.
The projects visited have been funded by the regional ministry for Environment in Valencia has mobilised €600 million of funding to the reconstruction with the aim to complete 90% of works by the end of the summer 2025. The European Union has provided support from the European Solidarity Fund and allowed the possibility to redirect financing from cohesion programmes via the RESTORE mechanism. The European Investment Bank has provided an initial financing package of €900 million to support recovery and reconstruction efforts in the affected areas of Spain.
Water resilience is one of the CoR's key priorities in the current mandate. First Vice-President Juanma Moreno has been appointed co-rapporteur for an upcoming opinion on the topic, and next week's plenary session features a debate with Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.