“Are they really just loans for Valencia?” asked the popular Palencia MP Milagros Marcos, in the Joint Commission for the EU of the Congress, in which the Secretary General for the EU, David Navarro, was present. Marcos has been very incisive, demanding that the recovery and resilience plan be modified in order to to reallocate funds to provide an immediate and urgent response to those affected by the devastating effects of Dana, families who have lost absolutely everything.
“It is a worrying situation that cannot wait, because Valencians need to recover their lives as soon as possible” Marcos has indicated that he has described as “unfortunate” the statements made by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, when he said “if they want help, they should ask for it.”
Aid for the rehabilitation of homes, to reopen businesses, to have vehicles, for the restoration of damaged infrastructure. All with a cost, according to the first estimate made by the Generalitat of Valencia of about 31,000 million, “yl“Government aid does not reach half, and most of it is guarantees and subsidies that have to be returned later.”
This is why Marcos has been surprised by the little aid to those affected, and even more so at a time when the Government is collecting more via taxes with 102,000 million, to which is added the increase in VAT and diesel fuel that are next in line. of 47,000 million euros that is being given to its pro-independence partners in the Government. “There is extra money there, but not for Valencia, only loans,” he reproached after pointing out that since PP has asked the European Union for greater flexibility in European funds so that this aid can be effective.
Lastly, Marcos recalled the 163 billion euros received from the Next Generation funds for climate change, and despite the fact that the climate emergency was declared in 2020, he asked what Where are those investments?” At the same time, no action has been taken in the area of water, with the repair of dams or the cleaning of channels, especially in the affected areas.
That is why the popular representative has ended her intervention by once again demanding effective and urgent aid from David Navarro for all the victims of this national tragedy.
What immediate measures are being considered to adapt the recovery and resilience plan for the Valencia region in response to the disaster caused by Dana?
Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Could you please introduce yourselves and briefly describe your role in the discussion around the European Union’s response to natural disasters like Dana?
Guest 1: My name is Milagros Marcos, and I am a Member of the European Parliament representing the region of Valencia. I sit on the Joint Commission for the EU of the Congress, where I work closely with my colleagues to ensure that European Union funds are effectively allocated to regions impacted by disasters like Dana.
Guest 2: I’m David Navarro, the Secretary-General for the European Union. My role is to represent the European Commission in interactions with the European Parliament and serve as the primary liaison for all matters related to the European Union’s policies and funding mechanisms.
Can you elaborate on the concerns raised by MP Milagros Marcos regarding the European Union’s response to the aftermath of Dana in the Valencia region? Specifically, she questions if the ongoing recovery and resilience plan should be modified to provide immediate and urgent assistance to those affected by the disaster?
Guest 1: According to the initial estimates provided by the Generalitat Valenciana, the recovery and resilience plan does not seem to be addressing the needs of those most affected by the disaster. The cost of rehabilitation, reconstruction, and reopening businesses is expected to be around 31,000 million euros, while the government is collecting an additional 47,000 million euros through tax increases. It’s disheartening to see that the government seems unwilling to provide adequate support when it comes to helping these communities recover from such a devastating event.
Guest 2: From the European Commission’s perspective, we understand the urgency of the situation and are committed to ensuring that all regions affected by natural disasters receive the necessary support. However, it’s essential to note that the recovery and resilience plan is a long-term strategy designed to improve overall resilience to future disasters. The plan must balance immediate needs with long-term sustainable objectives. Could you expand further on what specific modifications you propose to the plan?
Guest 1: The current plan needs to be more flexible and adaptable to the situations like
