EU ready to provide support on request through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Europe is into another summer of extreme heat, with hospitals under strain and the death toll rising, yet the EU’s response remains fragmented, as the European Commission argues that heatwave management is primarily a national responsibility.
“We have seen issues, for example, last week, in hospitals around Europe,” a Commission spokesperson said on Monday during a daily press briefing, acknowledging the strain of extreme heat on Europe. In a written response to Euractiv, the Commission elaborated that “the need to better manage and prepare for these risks, and to build resilience to the prevailing, projected and emerging climatic conditions, is clear.”
However, the Commission stressed that “any response to heatwaves is primarily the responsibility of the affected Member State, as the organisation of national healthcare systems is a national competence.” That includes properly equipping hospitals to handle heat.
The Commission said it stands ready to provide support if requested through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). So far, no country has requested assistance through the UCPM for the current heatwave, unlike Spain, which did so due to the recent Hantavirus outbreak.
