B4-0815, 0827, 0839, 0855, 0856 and 0857/98

Resolution on forest fires in the European Union

The European Parliament,

A. alarmed by the wave of forest fires which occurred in July and August 1998 in the Canaries, Catalonia, Galicia and Castilla-León Autonomous Communities (Spain) which have caused one death and destroyed over 1000 hectares in the south of Tenerife, 30 000 in Catalonia, 30 000 in Galicia and 3000 in Castilla-León,

B. concerned at the rash of forest fires which occurred over the summer in southern Italy, and particularly in Sicily, which have laid waste large areas of forest,

C. concerned at the destruction caused by the forest fires which devastated Portugal during the summer months,

D. having regard to the record number of fires (5 408) which swept through Greece during the months of June, July and August, causing loss of life and destroying an unprecedented area of forest,

E. having regard to the major material and ecological damage caused by these disasters in the aforesaid regions of the European Union,

F. having regard to the serious economic damage suffered by farmers in the regions concerned, as well as the damage to forests and the environment in regions particularly vulnerable to problems of desertification,

G. whereas forest fires during the summer season are a problem common to the Mediterranean region and southern Europe as a whole, and that the geomorphological and climatic factors conducive to deforestation and erosion make southern Europe one of the maximum risk areas for forest fires in the European Union,

H. whereas these fires have also affected protected areas, endangering the survival of a wide range of species native to these areas and undermining the local economy,

I. concerned by the fact that many forest fires may be due to arson backed by economic interests,

J. whereas airborne firefighting teams exist in most of the countries which are regularly affected by forest fires, and whereas it is essential that the maximum means to fight forest fires be available in the shortest time possible,

K. whereas current forms of cross-border cooperation between fleets of water bombers are frequently inadequate, with the result that action can be taken neither rapidly enough nor on a sufficient scale,

The European Parliament,

1. Expresses its deep regret and its sympathy with the family of the victims, as well as the inhabitants affected by these disasters;

2. Calls on the Commission to make available the funds required to alleviate, as far as possible, the economic and environmental damage suffered by the regions affected;

3. Calls for the implementation of a Community forestry policy which takes account of the specific nature of Mediterranean forests;

4. Calls on the Commission to draw up a strategy for preventing and fighting forest fires with measures designed to secure greater coordination and cooperation between Member States, including the pooling of equipment, especially aircraft, by establishing permanent cooperation mechanisms between water bomber fleets, and further asks the Commission to assess the possibility of creating a European forest fire-fighting fleet;

5. Calls on the national and regional authorities to combine and coordinate their efforts effectively as regards policy on both preventing and fighting forest fires;

6. Urges the Commission, together with the competent authorities, to draw up a plan for the rehabilitation of the affected areas, providing funds for reforestation and fire prevention from the Community's funds, especially the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the EAGGF-Guideline Section and ascertaining who is responsible for the fires which were started deliberately;

7. Emphasises the important role which the options available under the common agricultural policy may play in the prevention of such disasters,

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