WRITTEN QUESTION P-3556/01

by Arlette Laguiller (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(4 January 2002)

Subject: Firework explosion in Lanhelas (Portugal) on 2 June 2000

At Question Time on 5 July 2000, Commissioner Wallström undertook, on behalf of the Commission, to examine the problem of fireworks and the transport of hazardous substances in the Community, and stated: A proposal for amendments to the Seveso II directive should be ready by the beginning of next year, that is 2001. This can only be done when we have

evaluated the experiences following the accident in Enschede as well as the accident in Romania. This process will be carried out in close cooperation with the Member States, the European Parliament and other interested parties. (answer to question H-0548/00, tabled by the author of the present question).

Since then, several other accidents have occurred in other localities in Portugal:

- on Easter Monday, 16 April 2001, near Ponte de Lima, a bungled firework display killed one person and injured several others, as well as causing significant material damage;

- in July 2001, an explosion in a firework production unit near the town of Taipas killed five employees and left several other people with serious injuries;

- other firework-related accidents have included one in summer 2000 which led to a spectacular fire on a yacht (in this case, fortunately, there were no victims).

The victims of the 2 June 2000 accident have not been properly compensated, even though virtually none of them could be considered privileged members of society.

What action is the Commission taking to tighten the rules and safety standards governing this activity, for both the workers who handle fireworks and those who live in the vicinity of firework displays? What action is it taking to ensure that the victims are swiftly and properly compensated?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2002)

On 10 December 2001 the Commission adopted a proposal to amend the Seveso II Directive(1). This proposal was the outcome of intense consultation, particularly concerning proposals for amendments relating to explosives.

Following the Enschede accident, the Commission organised two seminars on explosives and pyrotechnic substances. The first took place in Marseille on 27 September 2000 and the second at the Commission's Joint Research Centre at Ispra on 28 and 29 March 2001. The proceedings of these seminars are available on the Internet site of the Major Accident Hazards Bureau (http://mahbsrv.jrc.it).

In addition, on 31 May 2001 the Commission held a public consultation meeting in Brussels in order to gather opinions and comments on a preliminary draft proposal to amend the Seveso II Directive.

The Honourable Member will recall that this proposal was basically intended as a response to the Baia Mare and Enschede accidents and to take account of scientific progress on carcinogenic and environmentally hazardous substances.

At the meeting, the preliminary draft proposal and the conclusions of the different seminars and working groups that had been looking into these matters were put to open debate.

Following this discussion it was seen appropriate to broaden the scope of the Seveso II Directive by offering a better definition of pyrotechnic substances and explosives while lowering the qualifying quantities for these substances.

Specifically, the draft amendment essentially seeks to adapt the classification criteria so as to take better account of the danger associated with certain pyrotechnic substances. If it receives the backing of Parliament and the Council it will make possible an appreciable improvement in the safety of workers and people living near such dangerous sites.

As regards compensation for victims, the Commission would remind the Honourable Member that this is a matter for national penal and civil law.

(1) COM(2001) 624 final.