“These floods Are another terrible demonstration that we must be better prepared for catastrophes.. That is why I will strengthen our resilience and climate preparedness and contribute to the adaptation of our climate plan”. With these words, the possible new EU Commissioner for Crisis Management and Equality referred to the DANA that has hit Spain, Hadja Lahbibwho had her hearing before the European Parliament on Wednesday. The Belgian, in reference to the situation, assures that it must be a priority to “increase the climate resilience” of the Union and calls for improved prevention practices.
In his appearance before the MEPs, Lahbib also showed his willingness to enhance the capabilities of the Emergency Response Coordination Center and the EU’s strategic rescue reserve., key in times like the one we are experiencing right now in Spain. “We need better coordination between the EU and our member states, and we will assess whether a preparedness law can help,” he argued, making it clear that the Union needs to be ready to deal with this kind of crisis, as called for in the so-called Niinisto report.
In response to questions from MEPs on how to improve the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to ensure that it serves vulnerable communities and maximizes intra-EU solidarity, Lahbib called for a strategy that encompasses civil and military defenseand covers all types of catastrophes – health, environmental and others – and focuses not only on response but also on crisis prevention.
In response to questions from Spanish MEPs, Lahbib pointed out that the Spanish government still has not been able to find the people still missing. has not yet requested the Civil Protection Mechanism to deal with the effects of the DANA.. “If it has not done so, it will be because it will not need it,” he explained.
He also had to leave room for the part of Equality, which will be in his portfolio after it was an independent police station in the last legislature. He announced that, on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025, he will present a Roadmap for Women’s Rights that will serve as a guiding compass for the future Equality Strategy. Gender Equality Strategy starting next year. She also promised specific measures for a renewed LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy after 2025, including positive incentives, a ban on conversion therapies and a new anti-racism strategy.
On the other hand, Belgian leader and former minister denied the alleged downgrading of the Equality portfolio. and stressed that she will have the same resources as the current Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli. She pledged to move forward on concrete issues such as the adoption in the EU of a definition of rape based on consent, abortion rights, surrogacy, children’s rights and poverty, through dialogue and awareness-raising, and above all based on respect for the individual rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups.
The management of humanitarian aid is also in his hands, at a key moment given the situation in both Gaza and Ukraine. Lahbib thus pledged to MEPs an integrated approach throughout the Commission. to support fragile countries suffering from humanitarian crises, in particular through a more coherent implementation of the triple nexus between humanitarian aid, peace and development. To reduce the humanitarian aid gap, the future commissioner, she said, will encourage EU member states to increase their funding, lobby new donors and facilitate a greater role for private sector actors in the development and delivery of humanitarian aid.