WRITTEN QUESTION E-1480/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Subject: Increased risk of fires in Greece

The prolonged drought in Greece is creating favourable conditions for outbreaks of forest fires and it is expected that a high level of preparedness will be required to prevent and control them.

The report on the Community system of information on forest fires 1985-1997, published by the Commission department responsible for forests, revealed that the Greek emergency services were unprepared in certain respects to prevent and extinguish forest fires (time between first alert and intervention, average fire control time, average area burned in each fire, etc.). Furthermore, record damage by fires was caused during the year 2000.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Are there any more recent data for Greece? What data can the Commission provide on the trend in the above indicators for 1998-2000?

2. Can the Commission provide information on the measures and action taken by Greece to prevent a recurrence of the devastation caused last summer?

3. Has the Commission been informed of any measures that Greece may have taken to increase its preparedness to deal with the greater risks this summer?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2001)

The Commission regrets the loss of human life and ecological and economic damage caused by forest fires, including those which ravaged Greece last year. It has noted that the Greek authorities are determined to take action to prevent forest fires breaking out in the future. Such action would include improving co-operation between national services, fire-fighter training, establishing a centralised policy for all regions and informing the public. This year the Greek authorities plan to hold a workshop as part of the Community action programme in the field of civil protection(1). The main purpose of this meeting of experts is to see how arrangements for controlling forest fires can be more effectively coordinated.

Unfortunately, Greece has not yet sent the Commission the relevant indicators for 1998-2000. The most recent data available come from the satellite mapping of forest fires which extended over more than 50 hectares in the year 2000. The total figure for Greece is 106 000 hectares, i.e. 27 % of the total amount of land burned in the five southern Member States of the Community.

To judge from the proposals in the Community Support Framework (CSF) 2000-2006, Greece plans to take many structural measures (studies, forest management plans, restoration work and preventive measures), especially under regional programmes. Substantial financial resources will be allocated for these activities, which will be accompanied by training and awareness-raising measures focusing on protection of the forests and sustainable development.

In addition, on 3 May 2001, under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 of 23 July 1992 on protection of the Community's forests against fire(2), the Commission approved a 1,7 million programme presented by Greece for 2001. Measures will include the construction of tracks, firebreaks and water supply points, preventive forestry operations and monitoring.

(1) 1999/847/EC: Council Decision of 9 December 1999, establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection (OJ L 327, 21.12.1999).

(2) OJ L 217, 31.7.1992.