During a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, a debate was held on the devastating forest fires in Southern Europe. The discussion focused on the need to strengthen European Union assistance, restore lost forest resources, and ensure better preparedness within the Union. PiS MEP Anna Zalewska took part in the debate.
The Polish politician said that forest fires pose a threat to the environment, as well as to people and the economy. “People and animals are dying in the burning forests, biodiversity is disappearing, and the property and economic losses are enormous,” said Anna Zalewska. She added that the fires also have a serious impact on the achievement of ambitious climate goals, including increasing the carbon sequestration target. She warned that raising the emissions reduction target to 90 percent by 2040 is unrealistic if the EU fails to achieve a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. “Forests need human support, proper forest management based on reliable financial analyses, high-quality monitoring, and effective fire prevention and hydrological systems,” the MEP noted. She noted that the European Union cannot take effective action without in-depth analysis and specific financial resources. She also pointed out that the Court of Auditors has drawn the European Commission’s attention to the lack of evidence regarding the proper spending of European funds. “We need detailed analyses conducted by member states that will allow us to identify those responsible for the forest fires and more effectively counter future threats,” urged Anna Zalewska.
