On Tuesday February 10th, the European Parliament, that next week will be gathering again for a plenary sitting in Strasbourg (9-12 February), will be discussing how to upgrade the EU ability to “prevent and face extreme weather events after the recent disasters in Southern Europe”. The MEPs – as stated in a note by the European Parliament – will question the Commission about the measures to be taken to prevent and get ready for natural disasters as well as about how to support the affected countries, including by upgrading the civil protection service and funding. The item has been included in the agenda, mainly because of the fact that in early 2026 Southern Italy, Portugal and Malta “were hit by serious weather events, including Cyclone Harry and Storm Kristin, that caused victims and huge damage along the coasts. The storms caused floods, landslides and the highest waves ever reported in the Mediterranean Sea”. On that same day, the MEPs will discuss the “efforts taking place to upgrade European defence in the light of an increasingly unstable international context”. On Wednesday 11th, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution of the Committee on Security and Defence about the EU’s strategic partnerships in security and defence, “aiming to upgrade cooperation with the main bilateral partners”. In the text, the MEPs point out that such partnerships are a necessity, not an option, as they contribute to the EU’s strategic independence.