Members of the European Parliament have called on the European Union to urgently reform its solidarity mechanisms after Storm Harry caused widespread damage in Malta and Gozo, arguing that current EU rules unfairly disadvantage smaller member states.

Speaking during a plenary debate in Strasbourg, Head of Delegation David Casa urged the EU to deliver faster and more effective support to communities affected by the storm, which damaged infrastructure, property and livelihoods across the islands. He stressed that Maltese families, small businesses, farmers and fishers are still dealing with the aftermath.

“Solidarity must be more than words. It must translate into action that reaches people when they need it,” Casa told MEPs, calling for the rapid mobilisation of EU solidarity instruments for Malta and other regions affected by the same extreme weather event.

Casa warned that the existing criteria governing access to the European Union Solidarity Fund are structurally imbalanced, making it significantly harder for smaller member states to qualify for assistance. He also criticised the European Commission’s restrictive interpretation of provisions intended to support multiple countries affected by the same disaster.

“This needs to change,” Casa said, calling for a critical reassessment of whether current EU instruments are fit for purpose in an era of increasingly frequent and destructive climate-driven events. He advocated faster procedures, simpler access to funding, lower eligibility thresholds and tailored measures for islands and more isolated regions facing unique vulnerabilities.

Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba echoed these concerns, warning that Malta is being treated unfairly compared to other regions affected by Storm Harry. Addressing the plenary, he questioned how the EU could credibly speak of European solidarity when the Solidarity Fund effectively excludes small states like Malta.

“How can we accept that Sicily, an island hit by the same storm and the same devastation, receives EU funds, while Malta is left completely excluded simply because it is never considered a region?” Agius Saliba asked.

He described the situation as discriminatory and called for urgent action, stressing that Maltese and Gozitan citizens are no less European than Italians, Spaniards or Portuguese. While noting that the Maltese Government has already committed to supporting affected communities through a national fund, Agius Saliba insisted that the EU must ensure equal treatment for all member states if solidarity is to have real meaning.

Both MEPs warned that extreme weather events are no longer exceptional and urged the EU to prioritise investment in people and disaster recovery rather than focusing resources elsewhere.

“Europe must respond better when disaster strikes, but it must also prepare better for what lies ahead,” Casa concluded.