Spain is pushing the European Commission to treat climate adaptation as a core economic and security priority, arguing that Europe can no longer rely on reactive measures as extreme weather becomes more frequent and costly, according to two documents seen by Euronews.
Madrid's plea comes as Brussels is preparing a climate resilience strategy, due by the end of the year, which Spain argues should have more teeth, after a dramatic summer marked by heatwaves, wildfires and drought.
At the same time, Spain is hoping to influence the ongoing negotiations on the next EU multi-annual budget covering 2028-2034, and is proposing a dedicated European Climate Adaptation Fund. It is also floating new EU revenue sources, including a tax on oil and gas profits, while leaving the door open to common European debt instruments.
"Our proposal puts forward a comprehensive approach to anticipating and assessing climate risks, integrating resilience into planning and investment decisions, strengthening our collective response to emergencies, and creating the necessary financial conditions to drive adaptation across Europe," reads a letter sent by Spain to Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra and seen by Euronews.
