B4-0497, 0530, 0535, 0549, 0551 and 0559/98

Resolution on the floods in Campania (Italy)

The European Parliament,

A. deeply shocked by the tragic natural disaster which occurred on 5 May 1998 in the provinces of Avellino and Salerno, as a result of which over one hundred people lost their lives, dozens are missing or wounded, and thousands have been evacuated,

B. whereas in recent years hydrogeological degradation in Italy has worsened and, notwithstanding the unusual speed and force with which events took place, the causes of the disaster include unbridled urbanization, illegal building, the destruction of the area's woods and forests, the diversion of rivers and the construction work along river courses, all of which have profoundly changed the natural environment and which the local and national authorities have failed to take adequate steps to prevent,

C. whereas a proper land protection policy should be formulated in Italy and in other European countries with a view to preventing further natural disasters, particularly in regions such as Campania, in which the hydrogeological balance is obviously precarious,

The European Parliament,

1. Conveys its sympathy to the families of the victims;

2. Calls for the evacuees to be provided with permanent housing without delay and for the Commission to take appropriate action to this end in cooperation with the Italian authorities; calls furthermore for resolute action to be taken with a view to the immediate repair of infrastructures and the resumption of the economic activities disrupted by the disaster;

3. Draws attention to the fact that the scale of this disaster and the shocking death toll call for a thorough, comprehensive assessment of political and administrative responsibilities and prevention and civil protection activities at all levels;

4. Calls on the Commission to consider the possibility of making a Community contribution to programmes aimed at building new homes and getting people back to work, which must be implemented without delay;

5. Calls on the relevant Italian authorities to ensure that appropriate measures are taken immediately to draw up an up-to-date map of high-risk areas and, above all, that such areas are permanently monitored, which will require the implementation of appropriate legislative and administrative measures;

6. Calls on the Italian Government to make the necessary changes to the present allocation of responsibility for land management;

7. Calls for the adoption of appropriate Community instruments to coordinate the various civil protection systems at European level, with a view to ensuring that the following are immediately on hand and operational throughout the territory of the Union in the event of natural disasters: personnel, resources, equipment, information and cartographical systems and rescue structures;

8. Considers that, in Italy as in other European countries, environmental and land protection policy must become a government priority and that binding regional land management plans which, in particular, put an end to illegal building and the endless spread of concrete must therefore be drawn up;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Italian Government and Parliament, the chairman of the Campania Regional Council and the chairmen of the Avellino and Salerno Provincial Councils.