European Parliament
Milan Gaľa (PPE-DE ). –
(SK)
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, over the past eight years the population of the Slovak Republic has regularly been threatened by flooding. Slovakia is generally endangered by floods affecting large river basins; however, as we experienced last week in Eastern Slovakia, flash floods due to heavy rain at a particular location are typical in many regions. Natural phenomena and, ultimately, climatic changes are the main causes of flooding. The extent of the losses due to flash floods to a large extent depends on human activity, such as upstream logging, inadequate drainage methods and, especially, extensive construction in high-risk, flood-prone areas.
I greatly appreciate the efforts of the authors of the draft directive, that is, the Commission, to draw up and make more complete flood maps and indicative maps of flood-induced losses. Coordinated planning and activity in the basins and cross-border basins of EU Member States will ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are reasonably reflected and that the available resources are used efficiently. Community-level cooperation generates substantial added value and improves the overall level of flood protection. That is why I have voted for this report.

