EU: New Floods Directive adopted

On 25/04/2007, the European Parliament adopted a set of compromise amendments agreed with the EU Council of Ministers on the proposal for a directive on the assessment and management of flood risks. The directive was proposed by the Commission in 2006 in order to prevent and limit floods and their damaging effects on human health, the environment, infrastructure and property. Since 1998, floods in Europe have caused some 700 deaths, the displacement of about half a million people and at least €25 billion in insured economic losses. The new Directive will require that Member States take a long-term planning approach to reducing flood risks.

The proposal and accompanying documents, as well as other information on EU water policy are available online.