The victims of the Dana in Brussels: « We have felt heard » | Spain

In the faces of the more than half a dozen representatives of associations of victims of the DANA in Valencia who have traveled this week to Brussels to Relate the ravages of the catastrophe to the European institutions It showed relief. And thanks, they have explained after meeting on Tuesday with the presidents of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Eurocamara, Roberta Metsola, and only for having been “heard”. Something that, they have denounced before journalists in the Belgian capital, they are denied until today at home.

Faced with the « institutional abuse » and « censorship » that say they have suffered and continue to suffer from the government institutions in Valencia, in the European commission and parliament « they have listened to us and made us feel comforted », they have explained the presidents of the Association Vítimes Dana October 29, Mariló Gradoli, and of the Association Victimos Vítimes Mortal Mortal Dana, Rosa Maria Álvarez. Both, together with the president of the president of the Association of Damnificats Dana Horta Sud València, Christian Lesaec, and other companions, have also received the commitment of von der Leyen, who did not receive them when he went to Valencia to participate in the Congress of the Popular Party Eurpeo (PPE), that will visit the « zero zone » of the Danaalthough the date is yet to specify. The German also has committed to monitor closely that European funds aimed at helping the community recover from the catastrophe will be well invested.

« Excited to meet with associations of victims of the floods of Valencia and their relatives, » said Von der Leyen on social networks after his meeting, which has prolonged for an hour.

« I thank you to have shared their stories. The EU is supportive and supports today’s recovery and tomorrow’s resistance. This tragedy must guide our preparations for the future, » he added, in a message that the victims have also highlighted: according to these, the German has said that “it is essential that the climate change is always taken into account, that infrastructures and reconstructions are not made Climate, ”they have underlined. In this sense, they have added, the head of the European Executive has assured that the DANA is “an episode to learn throughout Europe” and has committed to “studying and reviewing emergency systems”, as well as “the procedures and mechanisms of prevention and civil protection, to learn for future episodes”.

The associations have also extended an invitation to Metsola, who nevertheless has not yet confirmed a visit to Valencia. Of course, he has pledged to contact the Valencian authorities – Maltese is also from the European political family of the PP of the PP President Carlos Mazón— to see what can be done for the victims and their demands. Among other issues, he has advanced that he will study the possibility of helping with psychological support to the victims of the Dana.

« That European institutions receive us before the Valencian, says a lot about the government that we have, » said Grabolí.

The representatives of the victims associations have also met on Tuesday with more than a dozen Eurodiputados, Spanish and other nationalities, the social democratic, liberal, green and left groups, in an appointment organized by the socialists Leire Pajín and Sandra Gómez, as well as by Vicent Marzà (Compromís). The great absent have been representatives of Vox and the PP, although the conservatives have ended up organizing a meeting this Wednesday with the Eurodiputa Esteban González Pons, Valencian and head of the PP delegation in the Eurocamara. PP sources have indicated that they did not attend the appointment on Tuesday because it had been organized by Compromìs and PSOE and that they have « preferred » to make a separate meeting.

« They have lost it, it is not new to us, » Álvarez replied in reference to that displacement. « In Valencia they are not, why they were going to be here, when we went to Madrid, they didn’t receive us either, although we had riot outside, » he recalled. On the appointment with González Pons, Álvarez recalled that there have been many occasions to see that he has not taken advantage of the conservative Eurodiput. « It is Valencian, we could have gathered in any neighborhood in Valencia, but well, they make us travel thousands of kilometers to see us, » he has ironic, as he has assured that they have felt « very supported » by the other parliamentary groups, of which he thanked the « informed » that were of the tragedy that has come today to Brussels.