Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection ()

(95/C 301/02)

On 8 June 1995 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 11 July 1995. The Rapporteur was Mr Pellarini.

At its 328th Plenary Session (meeting of 13 September 1995), the Economic and Social Committee unanimously adopted the following Opinion.

1. Introduction

1.1. Community cooperation in the field of civil protection dates back some time. A first ministerial-level meeting laid the foundations for such cooperation in 1985, and it has since been consolidated by the series of Council Resolutions mentioned by the Commission in its proposal.

1.2. The Committee has followed these developments with interest and has championed them in its Opinions on specific aspects of civil protection, notably in relation to natural disasters, major industrial hazards, and other serious accidents.

2. General comments

2.1. The Committee welcomes the Commission's opportune and concrete proposal.

2.1.1. The Committee hopes that as well as supporting, backing up and supplementing national activities, the programme will seek to inject Community added value in an area which is closely bound up with the development of a citizens' Europe.

2.2. The general working framework has been established by the Council Resolution of 31 October 1994 and the cooperation initiatives already under way. Accordingly, while fully approving the proposal, the Committee would here like to comment on the following key aspects:

- legal basis;

- prevention;

- information and self-protection;

- 'technological' disasters.

2.2.1.

Legal basis

2.2.1.1. The Treaty assigns the Community no specific competence for civil protection matters, and the mention of Article 3(t) seems insufficient in view of the current sensitivity of public opinion and the EU's policy intentions in this area.

2.2.1.2. The Committee notes that in the absence of a specific legal basis, the proposal is based on Article 235. A declaration appended to the Final Act of the Maastricht Treaty provides for a Commission report on the subject. Pending the publication of this report, the Committee feels that the forthcoming Treaty revision should include a Title on civil protection, either in the form of a separate chapter or as an adjunct to an existing chapter, bearing in mind the potential Community added value in this field. The insertion of a separate chapter would be justified by the cross-sectoral nature of the problem, as in the case of the new chapters on public health and consumer protection.

2.2.2.

Prevention

2.2.2.1. The Committee has always stressed the importance of preventive action, and it is pleased to see that, at last, this aspect is highlighted in the most recent Council Resolution (). The Committee is sure that preventive measures can offer the greatest scope for Community added value, especially as regards public information, training and coordination of research as well as for consolidating cross-border cooperation at regional and local level.

2.2.2.2. The Committee would emphasize the need for instruments to deal with and, where possible, anticipate disasters by using, reinforcing and coordinating existing environmental monitoring networks and those in the pipeline.

2.2.2.3. The Committee therefore asks the Commission to address this aspect of the problem and present suitable proposals for coordinated activities at EU level.

2.2.3.

Information and self-protection

2.2.3.1. The Committee considers it particularly important that the public be informed of ways in which they can limit the damage caused by disasters and accidents (). It therefore welcomes the proposed action to improve public information, education and awareness, so as to help people to protect themselves more effectively.

2.2.3.2. NGOs in some Member States are already highly active in the civil protection field. Such bodies can play an important intermediary role and could contribute to the work of the advisory committee mentioned in Article 4, as well as to training and experience-swapping activities.

2.2.4.

Technological disasters

2.2.4.1. Although natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are difficult to predict, a sufficient body of experience and intervention capacity has been built up to tackle them. However, an increasing number of disasters is caused by human errors in the use of technology, by unforeseen breakdowns of that technology, or even by misuse of it for criminal ends (e.g. acts of terrorism using toxic substances).

2.2.4.2. In this connection, it should be noted that rescue workers have often faced difficulties because they were insufficiently informed and aware of the nature and scale of the hazards involved.

2.2.4.3. The Committee realizes that the dangers of technological disasters should decrease as safety rules are increasingly applied. However, it feels that civil protection mechanisms should be strengthened by providing better information on the potential hazards, specific training for certain types of hazard, and rescue plans to help deal swiftly and effectively with emergencies of this type.

3. Specific comments

3.1. Article 3(1)

3.1.1. Pursuant to the comments made in point 2.1.1, the Committee proposes adding the following: 'and encouraging the pooling of opinions and information on Member States' civil protection initiatives, with a view to convergence of national civil protection policies, in cooperation with the various organizations and associations of the Member States.'

3.2. Article 3(3)

3.2.1. In order to make full use of the work done by organizations and associations already active in this field, the words 'and the relevant organizations and associations' should be added.

3.3. Article 4

3.3.1. The Committee trusts that the proceedings of the advisory committee which is to assist the Commission will be as open as possible, and will draw on the work being done in this field by non-governmental organizations and associations.

3.4. Lastly, the Committee asks that, in the context of this programme, thought be given to the framing of a precise definition of the term 'disaster'.

4. Conclusions

4.1. In conclusion, the Committee reiterates its support for the proposal and calls on the Commission to remain vigilant and to do all it can to strengthen cooperation and coordination in the civil protection field.

Done at Brussels, 13 September 1995.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER

() OJ No C 142, 8. 6. 1995, p. 19.

() OJ No C 313, 10. 11. 1994, p. 1.

() See point 3.10 of ESC Opinion in OJ No C 295, 22. 10. 1994, p. 83 on the proposal for a Council Directive on the control of major-accident hazards involving substances.