Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION amending Decision 1999/847/EC as regards the extension of the Community action programme in the field of civil protection

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. In December 1999 the second Community action programme in the field of civil protection was adopted by Council Decision 1999/847/EC [1]. It aims at ensuring better protection for people, the environment and property in the event of natural and technological disasters across the Community. Indeed, it provides for a range of projects, exchanges of experts, workshops and other actions endorsing cooperation and mutual assistance between the Member States' civil protection services. The action programme supports and supplements Member States' efforts at national, regional and local levels. Within the current programme, the Commission is focussing its efforts on a limited number of major projects with a wider European impact. Emphasis has been put on a few major projects concerning prevention, information of the public, crisis management, disaster medicine and networking of the various volunteer associations active on the ground.

[1] OJ L 327, 21.12.1999 p. 53-57.

2. Several events during the past years have highlighted the need for an action at the European level such as the Prestige accident, the forest fires during the summer 2003 and the floods in the south of France at the end of 2003. These accidents have all brought together assistance coming from several Member States and they showed the need for a joint preparation and reciprocal information. Moreover, EU citizens need to be better informed about possible accidents and how to react. The projects aiming at educating young people have proven particularly successful.

3. As the current Community action programme in the field of civil protection expires on 31 December 2004, it is proposed to extend it for a period of two years, starting from January 2005 and ending in December 2006.

2004/0162(CNS)

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION amending Decision 1999/847/EC as regards the extension of the Community action programme in the field of civil protection (Text with EEA relevance)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, [2]

[2]

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, [3]

[3]

Whereas:

(1) Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999 establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection [4]provided for Community action in the field of prevention, preparedness and response to natural and man-made disasters both at land and sea for the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004.

[4] OJ L 327, 21.12.1999, p. 53.

(2) Recent events, such as the floods in Central and Eastern Europe in the summer of 2002, the Prestige accident in Spain in November 2002 and the heat wave and extensive forest fires in southern Europe in the summer of 2003 show that the action undertaken at Community level in the field of civil protection pursuant to Decision 1999/847/EC should be continued.

(3) In order to avoid a gap between the expiry of Decision 1999/847/EC and the date of application of a new legal basis the action programme established by Decision 1999/847/EC needs to be extended for a period of two years.

(4) Decision 1999/847/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision 1999/847/EC is amended as follows:

(a) In Article 1(1) "31 December 2004" is replaced by "31 December 2006";

(b) The first subparagraph of Article 2(3) is replaced by the following:

"The financial reference amount for the implementation of the programme shall be EUR 7,5 million for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004 and EUR 4,8 million for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2006".

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area: Environment

Activity: Policy development

Title of action: Extending the Community Action Programme in the field of civil protection for the period 2005/2006

1. BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

07 03 06 01

2. OVERALL FIGURES

2.1. Total allocation for action (Part B): EUR 4.8 million

2.2. Period of application: 2005 - 2006

2.3. Overall multi annual estimate of expenditure:

(a) Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention) (see point 6.1.1)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

>TABLE POSITION>

(b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure (see point 6.1.2)

>TABLE POSITION>

>TABLE POSITION>

(c) Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure

(see points 6.2 and 6.3)

>TABLE POSITION>

>TABLE POSITION>

2.4. Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective

[X] Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

[...] Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the financial perspective.

[...] Proposal may require application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.

2.5. Financial impact on revenue:

[X] Proposal has no financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure)

OR

[...] Proposal has financial impact - the effect on revenue is as follows:

3. BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

>TABLE POSITION>

4. LEGAL BASIS

Council Decision of 9 December 1999 establishing a Community Action Programme in the field of civil protection (1999/847/EC) , OJ L 327, 21.12.1999, p. 53.

5. DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

5.1. Need for Community intervention

5.1.1. Objectives pursued

Recent emergencies such as the floods in Southern France in 2002, the heat wave and extensive forest fires in southern Europe in the summer of 2003 and the terrorist attack in Madrid in March 2004 as well as the earthquakes in Algeria, Iran and Morocco show that there is a need to continue the action undertaken in the field of civil protection.

A global evaluation of the three current instruments, Civil Protection Action Programme, Community Mechanism and Marine Pollution framework, is ongoing in order to identify possible future areas for common action in this field. This may result in a new instrument which will cover the period 2007-2013.

Therefore, considering that the current Community action programme expires on 31 December 2004 it needs to be extended for a period of two year until 31 December 2006.

The Civil Protection Action Programme "is intended to support and supplement Member States' efforts at national, regional and local levels for the protection of persons, property and in so doing environment, in the event of natural and technological disasters, without prejudice to the internal division of competence in Member States. The aim is also to facilitate cooperation, exchange of experience and mutual assistance between Member States in this field."

It aims at the enhancement of civil protection capabilities of Member States, EEA and candidate countries for dealing with disasters, and in particular:

- prevention, forecasting, detection, preparedness for response and immediate aftercare, and analysis of the socioeconomic implications of disasters,

- workshops, training courses, exchange and secondment of experts, and exercises intended to stimulate civil protection cooperation,

- actions and pilot projects to increase capacity, speed and efficiency in emergency situations and support, information and awareness-raising activities including conferences with a civil protection theme,

- mobilisation of experts to reinforce and assist Member States or third countries facing natural disasters or technological accidents,

This proposal on the table will provide the extension of current Civil Protection Action Programme for the years 2005-2006.

5.2. Action envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

After the adoption of the decision the Commission will establish the rolling plan for the two

years, 2005-2006, and subsequently launch Call for proposals.

The actions covered by the present legislative proposal are carried out in accordance with the Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

5.3. Methods of implementation

The programme is managed directly by the Commission through Call for proposals and accompanying measures.

6. IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

6.1. Impact on human resources

>TABLE POSITION>

6.2. Overall financial impact of human resources

>TABLE POSITION>

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

6.3. Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action

>TABLE POSITION>

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

1 Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.

I. Annual total (6.2 + 6.3) // 478 800 EUR

II. Duration of action // 2 years

III. Total cost of action (I x II) // 957 600 EUR

All administrative and Human Resources requirements will be covered from within the Budget allocates to the managing DG's in the framework of the annual allocation procedure.

7. FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

7.1. Follow-up arrangements

A global evaluation of the three current instruments, Civil Protection Action Programme, Mechanism and Marine Pollution framework is ongoing in order to identify possible future areas for common action in this field.

For the future the Commission is considering the possibility to streamline the three instruments into one single framework.

8. ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

The proposed activities only consist of grants and expenditure on expert meetings. The latter will be subject to the Commission's usual control mechanisms and therefore there is no need for supplementary anti-fraud measures.