Leire Pajín, a Spanish MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group, has asked the European Commission what humanitarian, medical and logistical support it plans to send to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the country's north on 24 June 2026. In a written parliamentary question dated 25 June 2026, Pajín also urged the Commission to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism if Caracas requests it, and to coordinate with member states on delivering shelter, food, and health measures to prevent disease outbreaks.
The question comes after earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, occurring 39 seconds apart, caused collapsed buildings, damaged critical infrastructure and disrupted transport. Venezuelan authorities declared a state of emergency, and several regional countries plus Spain have already offered assistance. Pajín's intervention seeks to ensure the EU matches that response with concrete action.
Pajín's three-part query asks the Commission to specify what type of support it plans to send or fund, whether it is prepared to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for swift and coordinated delivery, and how it is coordinating with member states to meet urgent needs such as temporary accommodation, food distribution, and health and hygiene measures. The question does not set numerical targets or deadlines but pushes for a clear operational commitment.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether the EU intends to deploy its civilian protection tools and how it plans to channel aid to a country that has faced international sanctions and limited EU engagement in recent years. The outcome will affect Venezuelan earthquake victims, EU humanitarian agencies, member states' aid budgets, and regional coordination bodies.