WRITTEN QUESTION E-1236/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 April 2002)

Subject: Europe-wide voluntary auxiliary service

A Europe-wide auxiliary service would undoubtedly be beneficial for a united Europe. It would be particularly important and appropriate in disaster relief, first aid, welfare services and ecological work. As a result, there would be a large number of people able to provide efficient help in emergency situations.

Can the Commission state what action it has already taken in this area, what action it intends to take in the future, and what general plans it has in the area of disaster relief?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2002)

Since 1996 the European Voluntary Service (EVS) has been offering young people between 18-25 years the possibility of carrying out voluntary activities for up to one year in Europe and certain third country priority regions (currently: Southern Mediterranean, Balkans, Commmunity of Independent States (CIS), Latin America). Thematically these voluntary activities are situated in various fields such as the social, environmental or cultural area. Typical examples of projects are youngsters supporting the work of refugee centers, elderly peoples' homes, assisting in taking care for street children or drug-addicted, contributing to environmental education,

helping with fire-protection, promoting European awareness etc. An information campaign was launched in the second half of the 90s in order to raise the awareness for the EVS among civil protection organisations. However, the EVS is not planned for the deployment of volunteers in emergency cases.

In general, civil protection is conforming to the principle of subsidiarity. The authorities in each Member State are responsible for the conduct of civil protection within their own country.

However European cooperation in civil protection has been developed since 1985. The Community has taken significant action in order to face major emergencies, which may require urgent response action, and also to improve preparedness.

Moreover the Council adopted recently the Decision of the new Community mechanism in civil protection assistance interventions(1), supplementing the current Community action programme in civil protection.

This mechanism1 facilitates the mobilisation of intervention teams, experts and other resources, as required, and encompasses a monitoring and information centre and a common emergency communication and information system.

With its communication to the Council and the Parliament Civil protection State of preventive alert against possible emergencies(2) the Commission described what available resources have been swiftly mobilised under current programmes and actions facing in particular the threats of terrorist attacks (in the aftermath of 11 September 2001).

A project of the same name within the framework of the civil protection action programme had a close look to the Role of Non-Governmental Organisations' Volunteers in Civil Protection. The various recommendations would enable to increase and improve the role of volunteers in civil protection. For the details please see the website of the Commission civil protection unit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/civil/

(1) Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom of the Council of 23 October 2001 establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions, OJ L 297, 15.11.2001.

(2) COM(2001) 707 final.