B4-0241, 0242, 0255, 0267 and 0304/99

Resolution on the avalanche disasters in the Alps

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the avalanche disasters which have recently occurred in parts of the French, Italian and Austrian Alps, and in particular in Galtür in the Paznauntal, Tyrol,

B. dismayed at the large number of lives which these natural disasters have claimed,

C. impressed at the cross-border aid measures which resulted in the evacuation of 16 000 people,

D. whereas, in addition to the lives lost, not only have the avalanches caused immediate damage to property and the environment, but the regions affected have also suffered long-term economic disadvantages as a result of the drop in the number of overnight visitors and the harm to their image,

E. whereas tourism is economically very significant in the areas affected, and whereas the preservation of an orderly, intact landscape is of prime importance for the sustainable development of the tourist industry,

The European Parliament,

1. Extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and the people affected by the avalanche disasters;

2. Calls on the local and regional authorities to do everything in their power to improve avalanche safety in Alpine valleys; points out that, in this connection, efforts should also be made to review regional planning policy and renew and care more effectively for protective woodland;

3. Is aware that substantial funding will be required to restore avalanche barriers and remedy the damage suffered to property; calls on the Commission, therefore, as far as possible to support the regions concerned in funding the requisite measures and further-reaching avalanche protection projects;

4. Calls on the Commission, in that connection, to support the regions and local authorities concerned, in particular as regards the targeted use of existing aid, and to grant them every possible assistance;

5. Calls on the Commission, further, to consider whether, through the reallocation of budget appropriations or any other budgetary measures, funding can be made available in order to provide the regions affected in Chamonix, Val d'Aosta and Tyrol/Vorarlberg with economic assistance;

6. Calls on the Commission to release appropriations to support a central, international avalanche research centre;

7. Calls on the Member States concerned to implement in full the Convention on the Protection of the Alps;

8. Regrets the fact that decisions to award planning permission in mountain areas do not always comply with the safety rules in force and that those rules are not updated more frequently in keeping with the steady deterioration of the mountain ecosystem;

9. Calls on the competent authorities in the Member States to ensure that rigorous studies are carried out before planning permission is granted for building residential areas;

10. Insists that manufacturers of the apparatus used for searching out victims buried in the snow should improve the functioning of these appliances, which still display serious defects;

11. Calls on the Member States and local authorities to conduct multilingual information campaigns aimed at tourists and urges them to implement more effective and independent mountain risk prevention policies;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and regions of the Member States concerned and Switzerland.