WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3363/97 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL to the Commission. Floods in the EU: assessing the cost
Date: 1997-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, EAGGF, European Regional Development Fund, aid to disaster victims, damage, degradation of the environment, environmental risk prevention, flood, natural disaster, natural hazard

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/149

However, the appropriate financial resources must be provided for in the Objective 1 or 5(b) Community support
frameworks to permit the part-financing of the most suitable of the measures to which the Honourable Member
refers.

The Commission is willing to examine proposals from the Member State to solve the problems mentioned by the
Honourable Member within the framework of the funds available under the Community support frameworks for
the regions concerned.

(1)  OJ L 374, 31.12.1988.

(98/C 134/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3363/97

by Jose· Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Floods in the EU: assessing the cost

The recent floods in the Spanish Mediterranean region in the last week of September have caused major personal
and  material  damage.  In  the  Valencian  community,  Murcia  and  Andalucia,  material  damage  is  estimated  at
PTA 20 000 million, according to preliminary provisional figures issued by the Union of Small Farmers.

These natural disasters are not sporadic occurrences, but recur periodically, because of the geomorphological and
climatic characteristics of the area, and they affect other Member States such as Italy and France. Furthermore,
they have serious environmental consequences, since they accelerate the rate of soil erosion and deforestation, in
areas already suffering from very advanced ecological deterioration.

In view of the continual recurrence of these floods in the Mediterranean Basin, does the Commission have any
studies assessing the economic and ecological damage they cause in the EU?

(98/C 134/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3364/97

by Jose· Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Floods in the EU: preventive task force

The recent floods in the Spanish Mediterranean region in the last week of September have caused major personal
and  material  damage.  In  the  Valencian  community,  Murcia  and  Andalucia,  material  damage  is  estimated  at
PTA 20 000 million, according to preliminary provisional figures issued by the Union of Small Farmers.

These natural disasters are not sporadic occurrences, but recur periodically, because of the geomorphological and
climatic characteristics of the area, and they affect other Member States such as Italy and France. Furthermore,
they have serious environmental consequences, since they accelerate the rate of soil erosion and deforestation, in
areas already suffering from very advanced ecological deterioration.

Has the Commission considered the possibility of setting up a task force to study this problem and coordinate the
implementation of practical solutions?

(98/C 134/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3365/97

by Jose· Garc(cid:14)·a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Floods in the EU: in-depth study of damage caused

The recent floods in the Spanish Mediterranean region in the last week of September have caused major personal
and  material  damage.  In  the  Valencian  community,  Murcia  and  Andalucia,  material  damage  is  estimated  at
PTA 20 000 million, according to preliminary provisional figures issued by the Union of Small Farmers.