WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1209/96 by Pedro MARSET CAMPOS to the Commission. Effects of the borer plague on the pinewoods in the Murcia region (Spain)
Date: 1996-05-15
Institutions: European Parliament, MARSET CAMPOS
Subjects: EU financing, Region of Murcia, afforestation, common agricultural policy, conifer, desertification, drought, fire, forest conservation













EUR-Lex - 91996E1209 - EN






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91996E1209

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1209/96 by Pedro MARSET CAMPOS to the Commission. Effects of the borer plague on the pinewoods in the Murcia region (Spain)  


Official Journal C 305 , 15/10/1996 P. 0061 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1209/96 by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (15 May 1996)Subject: Effects of the borer plague on the pinewoods in the Murcia region (Spain)Following the prolonged drought, the borer plague is now affecting more than 7000 hectares of pinewoods in the Murcia region. Its effects are compounding those of the drought and of forest fires, increasing the risks of desertification in a highly sensitive area.1. What action does the Commission intend to take to limit the effects of this problem?2. When does the Commission intend to submit a proposal for a Community forestry policy, given that this is essential to complete the range of internal policies and to deal with the serious environmental problems which are arising?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 June 1996)The Community is very anxious to protect its forests and to this end has adopted various instruments.As regards the case specifically referred to by the honourable member, it should be noted that the regional development programme adopted by the Commission for Murcia includes disease and pest control. It is therefore the responsibility of the regional authorities to re-direct priorities, as necessary, to suit the needs arising.Generally speaking, however, the forestry action programme adopted in 1989 and reinforced in 1992 as part of the back-up to the reform of the common agricultural policy, affords a number of instruments covering in particular the afforestation, reforestation, development and protection of forests.The following are worth mentioning:- the afforestation of farmland and the improvement of wooded areas in agricultural holdings, provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 on forestry measures in agriculture, ((OJ L 215, 30.7.1992. )) under which the Commission in 1994 granted funding for the Spanish programme of forestry measures in agriculture to the tune of ECU 430 million from the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund;- the development and improvement of forests as part of the regional programmes;- the Cohesion Fund, from which programmes to control soil erosion in Spain, in particular through reforestation, have received Community funding;- the protection of forests against atmospheric pollution (Regulation (EEC) No 2157/92 ((OJ L 217, 31.7.1992. ))) and against fire (Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 (2)), under which Community funding totalling ECU 12 million has been granted to 57 fire-prevention projects in Spain between 1992 and 1996.It should be noted that those two Regulations expire at the end of 1996 and a Commission proposal to extend their validity will be put before the Council and Parliament in the near future.