Brussels wants climate risks recorded for each country
The European Commission wants national plans and an insurance alliance against damage caused by floods, wildfires and other extreme weather.
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The European Commission will present a directive on climate resilience on Tuesday. Under the proposal, member states must set out which climate risks they face, how they are preparing and who is responsible for taking measures.
The plans should give Brussels a clearer view of where the greatest risks lie in Europe, such as flooding, wildfires and drought. They should also clarify which investments are needed to make infrastructure and homes more resilient.
European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra links the proposal to construction and spatial planning. According to the European Commission, new infrastructure must take climate risks and scientific scenarios about future conditions into account.
The package includes a European climate insurance alliance. Brussels wants to prevent areas from becoming uninsurable or economically unattractive as the damage increases. The alliance should bring together governments, insurers and other stakeholders.
The Commission previously reported that only about a quarter of the damage caused by natural disasters in Europe is covered by private insurance. The new plan should help narrow that insurance gap, but it will not automatically make all damage insurable.
For the Netherlands, flood risks, land subsidence, heat and damage to infrastructure are particularly relevant. The directive is not yet a fully worked-out division of costs and responsibilities. Member states and the European Parliament still have to consider those matters.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The European Commission is presenting national climate-risk plans and an insurance alliance as parts of its proposal.
- The plans focus on preparedness, infrastructure and the insurability of damage.
- The exact legislation and financial division have not yet been finalised.
Left
Arguments The government must address climate risks collectively and prevent low-income households or vulnerable regions from bearing the cost of damage they cannot prevent themselves.
Values Solidarity, public protection and climate justice.
Consequences This perspective emphasises public investment, prevention and rules requiring insurers to offer broad coverage.
Centre
Arguments A joint European risk analysis can prevent fragmentation, but the measures must remain affordable and be based on demonstrable risks.
Values Practicality, proportionality and institutional cooperation.
Consequences The preference is for national plans with European coordination, risk-based premiums and clear agreements on public support.
Right
Arguments Governments should build and invest in places where doing so is responsible, while citizens and businesses must also take responsibility for choices that increase their risks.
Values Individual responsibility, efficiency and protection of public funds.
Consequences This perspective warns against broad subsidies for high-risk construction and advocates market incentives, stricter building regulations and limited collective coverage.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The policy announcement, the purpose of national risk plans and the insurance alliance have been confirmed by ANP and European sources. Figures and earlier context are presented as originating from the Commission; the article makes no statements about definitive legislation.
- confirmed The European Commission will present a directive on climate resilience on 27 October. — ANP report of 27 October 2026. source
- confirmed Member states must submit national plans for climate risks. — Description of the proposal in the ANP report. source
- confirmed The Commission wants to establish a climate insurance alliance. — The European Commission refers to the establishment of a climate insurance alliance. source
- confirmed About 25 per cent of damage caused by natural disasters in Europe is insured. — Figure from a publication by the European Commission. source
Editor's note
The substance of the news has been confirmed by an ANP report on Tuesday’s presentation and by earlier European Commission documents. The precise legal form, timetable and division of costs have not yet been finalised.Sources
- Brussel wil van elk EU-land plan voor risico’s klimaatverandering — ANP via ZeelandNet
- Climate resilience: a more integrated, competitive and resilient Europe — Europese Commissie
- About climate adaptation and resilience — Europese Commissie
- Hoe voorkomen we dat de rekening van extreem weer onbetaalbaar wordt? — Verbond van Verzekeraars
More on this in Dutch media
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