More than 14,000 areas in the EU are at significant risk of flooding, according to an online viewer launched recently by the European Commission.

The viewer presents for the first time in one map the areas in the European Union which, according to the national authorities, carry a potentially significant flood risk.

The flood risk information presented in the viewer is provided by EU member states with support from the commission and the European Environment Agency. 

Environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said: "The human and economic costs of the recent floods in Slovenia and Greece have been devastating. Such extreme weather events are sadly becoming more frequent in the EU and around the world, so we have to become better prepared and adapt.

Will help empower decision makers

"In order to effectively mitigate the climate risks that we are facing, we need reliable information. Our new tools will help empower decision makers and professionals to factor in the risk of floods in their decisions.

"This useful and user-friendly awareness tool is the result of the obligations under the EU Floods Directive that establishes the steps in the process of managing flood risk.

"The viewer shows the areas of potential significant flood risk, along with additional information and weblinks. It provides a single gateway to all member states’ preliminary flood risk assessments, flood hazard and risk maps, and flood risk management plans in the national language/s. 

The publication of the viewer coincides with a meeting between the commission, the member states and stakeholders which is part of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive implementation strategy which is a vital component of the close-knit cooperation required in the area of water policy.