WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3286/97 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Request for special aid measures following the earthquake in Umbria and the Marches
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: ANGELILLI, European Parliament
Subjects: Marches, Umbria, aid to disaster victims, architectural heritage, cultural heritage, disaster area, earthquake, emergency aid, natural disaster

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/165

of architectural, historic and religious significance. The town of Assisi, with its churches dedicated to St Francis,
which contain priceless frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue, amongst other things, was seriously damaged.

Thousands of people are homeless and an initial estimate indicates that the damage is difficult to calculate, in
particular because of the serious damage done to priceless works of art.

What does the Commission intend to do to meet the needs of the population and to restore the damaged works of
art, which are not only part of Italy(cid:146)s heritage but belong to the whole of mankind?

(98/C 117/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3286/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Request for special aid measures following the earthquake in Umbria and the Marches

In the last week of September a severe earthquake caused substantial damage in Italy, particularly in the regions
of Umbria and the Marches.

Above  all,  it  made  built-up  areas  unusable,  thereby  seriously  inconveniencing  the  inhabitants  and  it  also
seriously damaged the artistic heritage, in particular the town of Assisi.

Is the Commission able to allocate special financial aid for:

1. 

the sections of the population affected;

2. 

rebuilding town centres;

3. 

restoring works of art?

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-3220/97 and P-3286/97
given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1997)

The  Commission  wishes  to  express  its  fullest  sympathy  for  the  victims  of  the  earthquakes  that  have  been
devastating  the  Italian  regions  of  Umbria  and  the  Marches  since  the  end  of  September.  It  is  aware  of  the
exceptional  scale  of  the  damage  inflicted  on  Europe’s  citizens  living  in  these  regions  and  of  the  destruction
suffered by its incomparable cultural heritage.

Regarding  Community  emergency  aid  for  disaster  victims,  the  Commission  would  remind  the  Honourable
Member that in the 1997 budget the relevant item (B4-3400) contains no appropriations that could be used for
immediate measures of solidarity with the citizens who have sustained losses.

Regarding structural aids, the earthquakes have affected highly rural areas to which Commission attaches great
importance; they are virtually all objective 5b areas.

The Presidents of the two regions concerned have asked the Commission to adjust the objective 5b programming
to take account of new priorities and needs generated by the earthquakes.

The Commission confirms that its is fully ready to launch the procedures, the partnership context, for boosting
the objective 5b single programming documents by adding specific reconstruction measures. This would provide
an  opportunity  to  consider  the  value  of  action  to  support  the  artistic  and  architectural  heritage,  production
potential and the reconstruction of rural villages.

Regarding restoration  of the  cultural heritage, the  Commission announced on 1  October  1997 it  would  grant
emergency aid of ECU 100 000 from the funds allocated for the preservation of cultural heritage. This emergency
aid is intended to cover some of the costs of restoration of the church of St Francis of Assisi, and in particular for
the restoration of the frescos damaged during the recent catastrophic earthquake.