The Minister of the Environment, Cristina Narbona, on behalf of Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia, has presented to the Council of Ministers of the Environment of the European Union a joint document that proposes to carry out a European strategy for the prevention and protection against droughts and the reduction of associated risks.

Cristina Narbona has asked the Council of Ministers of the Environment to ask the European Commission to develop a thematic strategy that lays the foundations for proposing solutions to the problem of drought, as well as providing European Funds to manage and mitigate its effects.

This initiative, led by Spain and France, aims to highlight the serious environmental, social and economic effects caused by droughts. It also proposes that the European Union treat regional problems as a common concern, given that drought is currently affecting several European countries and its effects influence the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD).

The document emphasizes various aspects, including the need to address drought risk management globally, considering all sectors involved, as well as planning to adopt the necessary measures to prevent the deterioration of surface and groundwater, the adoption of preventive measures, the increase of knowledge of drought risk management, joint action, the improvement of user collaboration, the prevention of the economic efforts involved in drought management and the continuity in research and exchange of knowledge and experiences in everything related to drought risk management.