WRITTEN QUESTION E-0399/00

by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) and Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 February 2000)

Subject: Implementation of Community legislation and Community funding for Greece for the protection of forestry

Community regulations 3528/86(1) and 2158/92(2) on the protection of forestry from atmospheric pollution and fires impose specific obligations on the Member States, such as the provision of fire prevention schemes. The regulations also enable Member States to finance actions falling with the scope of the provisions of these regulations.

Will the Commission say in respect of the implementation of the above regulations in Greece:

1. Have the Greek authorities forwarded to the Commission, in accordance with Article 10 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, the information specially referred to in regulation 2158/92?

2. Can it give a breakdown of the amounts received by Greece under these two funding regulations since 1995 and say what percentage they represent compared with the other Mediterranean Member States?

3. Has Greece benefited from any other Community financial means for the protection of its forestry? If so, what sums are involved and what percentage do they represent compared with the other Mediterranean Member States?

(1) OJ L 326, 21.11.1986, p. 2.

(2) OJ L 217, 31.7.1992, p. 3.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2000)

1. In accordance with Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 of 23 July 1992 on protection of the Community's forests against fire, on 2 February 1993 Greece sent to the Commission a list of areas classified by degree of forest-fire risk. The list, which accorded the whole country a duly substantiated classification as an area of high risk, was approved by Commission decision C(93)1619 of 24 June 1993.

Following that approval, and in accordance with Article 3 of the same Regulation, on 24 June 1993 Greece sent to the Commission a national forest-fire protection plan; on 7 March 1994 the Commission delivered an opinion stating that the plan complied with Article 3.

Lastly, on 8 October 1999 Greece sent to the Commission an update of the initial plan covering a 10-year period (1994-2003). On 10 January 2000 the Commission delivered a new opinion concluding that Greece's updated plan continues to meet the objectives and guidelines referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92.

Each year since its entry into force in 1994, Greece has also been providing the Commission with the data required by Commission Regulation (EC) No 804/94 of 11 April 1994 laying down certain detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 as regards forest-fire information systems(1).

2. Under Council Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 of 17 November 1986 on the protection of the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution and Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 (already referred to above), the Community granted 71,48 million in aid for measures relating to all the Mediterranean Member States (Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal) during the period 1995-1999. Of that amount, 13,64 million (19 % of the total) was allocated in aid to Greek measures over the same period.

3. Greece also received other forms of Community part-financing in the sphere with which the Honourable Member is concerned. For the period 1994-1999, 55,6 million was granted in Cohesion Fund assistance. The other Mediterranean Member State to have had recourse to the Fund is Spain ( 565 million). Portugal did not allocate Cohesion Fund appropriations to forestry.

As regards the EAGGF (Guidance Section), under the second Community Support Framework for Greece (1994-1999) and the Community initiatives, 224 million from the available appropriations was allocated to forestry. In Portugal, 79,7 million was allocated to forestry under the CSF for 1994-1999, while in Spain 510 million was allocated to forestry and to environmental protection under the CSF for the same period.

(1) OJ L 93, 12.4.1994.