WRITTEN QUESTION E-0880/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 March 2001)

Subject: Seismic activity in the EU countries and Commission initiatives

The EU has been struck by a number of large earthquakes over the last few years: the country worst affected is Greece, since according to data provided by the Commission, eight of the fifteen most destructive earthquakes in the EU between 1980 and 1995 occurred there. The most recent earthquake in Athens killed 140 people, but also caused incalculable material damage. Recently great concern has been caused by strong rumours that a large earthquake is imminent, concern heightened by doubts about the level of preparation of the state mechanism for dealing with such a contingency.

Will the Commission say what initiatives are being drawn up at European level with Commission funding relating to the study of seismic activity in the Union and the development of an earthquake warning network? Exactly how much money has the Commission made available for studying

seismic phenomena in the Union over the last twenty years, a period during which very destructive earthquakes have occurred, for instance in Athens (1981 and 1999), Kalamata (1986), Aigion, Grevena and many other places?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2001)

The threat of seismic activity is an important issue. The Commission has been funding activities in this field since 1986. Since then, a budget of around 40 million has been allocated to fund to 60 research projects. These projects cover basic seismology (such as the study of seismic phenomena and movements), applied geotechnical seismology and paraseismic engineering (antiseismic design of foundations and structures).

The Commission has made budgets of around 10 million available for studying seismic phenomena, and 15 million for studying seismic movements (including observation and forecasting networks). International cooperation on activities in this field should also be noted: three Community-Japanese seminars financed by the Commission (in Crete in 1997, Reykjavik and Kyoto in 1999) have strengthened cooperation between the Community and Japan. The Community-Medin seminar (Mediterranean Disaster Information Network) in Brussels in 2000 was also organised in the context of cooperation between the Community and the United States.

Events in this field usually involve the participation of many Greek scientists. Around 25 groups of Greek scientists (from universities, research centres, consultancy firms) are working on projects under the Fourth and Fifth framework programmes. Under the Fifth framework programme (1998-2002) three major research projects (Corseis, DG Lab-Corinth Facility and 3F-Corinth), the principal theme of which is the continuous monitoring of the seismology and geochemistry in the Gulf of Corinth, have been allocated a total budget of 3.5 million.

In the field of civil protection, the Commission has also cofinanced Greek pilot projects on urban planning in seismic regions and on the post-seismic assessment of building safety, and a Portuguese pilot project on public information. Two pilot projects are currently being financed as part of the Community Action Programme in the field of civil protection(1): a Greek project on the post-seismic assessment of building safety, and an Italian project on the radar-satellite surveillance of the ground and infrastructure. These projects are all being carried out in close collaboration with the civil protection authorities in the Member States concerned, so as to make for practical use of the results in disaster prevention and management measures.

(1) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.