Floods, earthquakes and sudden climatic changes bring about the highest risk for the citizens of the EU, according to Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

As many as 100 000 people in EU have lost their lives in such natural disasters since 1998, Gergieva pointed out.

The financial consequences during the same period are estimated at around EUR 150 B.

Commissioner Georgieva shared these alarming figures on a conference held in Bulgaria's capital Sofia, entitled EVROS 2010. The EVROS 2010 project is an EU initiative, dedicated to management of complex flooding incidents in sensitive areas of European Union through effective reactions and coordinated practices.

As for Bulgaria, Kristalina Georgieva focused the attention on three major natural hazards: floods, landslides and forest wildfires.

Georgieva shared that EU has at its disposal EUR 6 B for humanitarian aid and crisis response. She emphasized the importance of prevention.

"We should deal with the insecurity, the improvisation and the provisional approach to crisis," the Bulgarian Commissioner stated.

"A full cycle of crisis response includes prevention, readiness, fast reaction and fast recovery. It is vital for this cycle to be well planned," she explained.

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