EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/131

(2004/C 78 E/0133)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2591/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: State of emergency due to the drought in the Region of Lazio

The drought that has hit Italy in the last few weeks is having an alarming impact on the Lazio region, where the water levels in river basins are below the critical threshold.

The lakes of Bolsena, Albano, Nemi and Castelgandolfo have reached their lowest recorded levels, which is causing increasing concern as regards crops. The situation has reached the point where farmers in Lazio have requested recognition of a natural disaster.

The production of maize and cereals is already only half what it should be and one third of crops in the fruit and vegetable sector have been destroyed. Confagricoltura, the national organisation of farmers, has forecast further falls in production by the end of July.

The drought problem is taking on alarming proportions in Lazio, not least because of its direct effects on the population. In particular the Simbrivio acqueduct, which supplies more than sixty municipalities, is unable to ensure a constant supply of water to the inhabitants.

In view of the seriousness of the situation and with reference to the Council Regulation of 15 November establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund for natural disasters, can the Commission say:

1. whether the current state of emergency in Lazio may be recognised pursuant to Articles 2 and 3 of the Regulation;

2. whether the Italian State meets the requirements for requesting the grant provided for this purpose under the Solidarity Fund?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2003)

The Commission would like to sympathise with the inhabitants of the Region of Lazio and also the inhabitants in the other affected regions in Italy who are suffering from the present drought.

The Commission is deeply concerned about the serious repercussions that the drought is having on the living conditions, the natural environment and the economy in the Lazio Region.

The Honourable Member in referring to Article 2 and 3 of the EUSF Regulation (1), has correctly indicated the main qualifying criteria of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF).

The Commission would however like to remind the Honourable Member that the EUSF was set up to provide assistance mainly in the event of major disasters and the eligibility criteria are rather specific. The fund can only be utilised to provide immediate financial assistance in accordance with the qualifying criteria outlined in the EUSF Regulation. Intervention can only take place to help finance making good public damage not covered by insurance. It cannot cover economic losses (e.g. of farmers).

The Commission is not in receipt of any official information from the Italian authorities as to the size and scale of direct damages suffered to date in the Lazio Region or any other area in Italy in respect of the present drought. Hence it is unable to comment if the qualifying criteria for the EUSF to intervene in respect of this disaster are fulfilled.

The Italian Government has the sole discretion to submit an application. Depending on the scale of damages suffered and the areas affected, it can submit an application for each of the regions affected by different disasters, or it could submit one application if the cumulative scale of damages for all the areas affected by the same disaster exceeds 0,6 % of gross national income (GNI).

It should be noted, that subject to the approval by the Council and Parliament of recent Commission decisions to grant assistance, the total amount of EUSF funding for disasters at a regional level available for the remainder of 2003, is EUR 18,75 million. The amount of assistance available for major disasters is EUR 925 million.

The EUSF Regulation requires that applications should be made within ten weeks of the date of the first damage caused by the disaster.

Whether any of the conditions and other requirements of the Regulation are met, will be examined on the basis of the information provided in any application made by the Italian Government. The Commission can only propose the mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund to the Budgetary Authority if is demonstrated that all the criteria laid down in the Regulation are met.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund, OJ L 311, 14.11.2002.