WRITTEN QUESTION P-1324/00

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 April 2000)

Subject: Psychological support in the event of major accidents and natural disasters

Several serious accidents and natural disasters have occurred in Europe in recent years earthquakes, avalanches, landslides, floods, train accidents, accidents at sea, mining disasters, etc. Apart from causing countless deaths and physical injuries, these disasters have also inflicted mental suffering and trauma on a great many people.

There is a crucial need for psychological support for individuals who have experienced traumatic events. Psychological support during the first few days significantly improves the chances of recovery.

Many European countries have set up organisations to help care for victims who are in need of psychological help. These organisations come together in the EFPPA, for example (European Federation of Professional Psychologists Associations), which has 30 member associations.

Are there any projects in the EU which endeavour to organise assistance for victims of accidents in need of psychological support, or are there plans to set up such programmes at European level?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Under the Community action programme in the field of civil protection for 1998 and 1999 (Council Decision 98/22/EC of 19 December 1997(1)), the Commission financed the following measures in the area of psychosocial help in the event of disasters, as part of the major disaster medicine project: self-training workshop on preparing those responsible for, and involved in, civil protection to deal with the psychosocial dimension of disasters; several workshops on the management of psychosocial monitoring in the case of collective emergencies; a workshop on psychosocial support in crisis situations.

These activities led to the drafting of practical recommendations on the organisation of psychosocial support for those involved, victims and family members, which have been published on the Internet:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/civil/.

Accordingly, within the framework of the Community action programme in the field of civil protection for 2000-2004 (Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999(2)), Belgium has proposed a project relating to the management of psychosocial support in the case of disasters. The purpose of the project is to prepare a methodological guide, monitoring indicators and a system for training those responsible, covering the entire Community.

A programme of Community action on injury prevention (Decision No 372/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 February 1999(3)) has been adopted in the area of public health, the main objective of which is to contribute to public health activities to reduce the incidence of injuries by promoting the epidemiological monitoring of injuries and exchanges of information on the use of these data in order to help to define priorities and improve prevention strategies. No projects relating to psychological support in the case of serious accident or natural disaster have yet been submitted. However, they could be considered, account being taken of the eligibility criteria, the annual priorities and the annual resources available.

(1) OJ L 8, 14.1.1998.

(2) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.

(3) OJ L 46, 20.2.1999.