Assessment of the capacity for flood monitoring and early warning in enlargement and Eastern/ Southern neighbourhood countries of the European Union

Flooding is a natural disaster that can damage large areas in the vicinity of rivers, and in the case of flash floods, also in the vicinity of smaller streams. This report presents an assessment of the capacity for flood monitoring and early flood warning for 17 of EUs neighbouring countries. Many possibilities for improvements were identified, both on a national and regional level. Some important recommendations include: i) maintenance has to be considered when funding improvements of measurement networks; ii) training of staff is highly demanded in all countries; and iii) international efforts for meteorological and hydrological modelling should be encouraged.