WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3366/97 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL to the Commission. Floods in the EU: awareness- raising campaign
Date: 1997-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF, aid to disaster victims, damage, degradation of the environment, disaster area, environmental risk prevention, flood, natural disaster, public awareness campaign, regions of Spain

C 134/148

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

The Commission will shortly present a communication to the Council and the Parliament on the future of the
social  dialogue.  It  is  the  result  of  a  comprehensive  consultation  exercise,  initiated  through  the  1996
communication mentioned by the Honourable Member. The Parliament has contributed greatly to that exercise
by  its  in-depth  analysis  of  the  future  of  the  social  dialogue  in  its  resolution  of  18  July  1997,  supporting  the
Commission in its call for a strengthened sectoral dialogue.

In order to achieve this, the Commission intends to propose adaptations to the current structures of the sectoral
dialogue.  The  social  partners  should  be  encouraged  to  work  within  flexible  and  adaptable  structures  which
favour efficient political dialogue.

(98/C 134/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3362/97

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

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Floods in Valencia, Murcia and Andalucia: aid to victims

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.

In view of the extent of the damage, and its far greater social impact, since it affects small farmers, does the
Commission intend to provide aid, both for the victims and to repair the material damage?

(98/C 134/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3366/97

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

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Floods in the EU: awareness-raising campaign

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.

Is there any possibility that the Commission might carry out an awareness-raising campaign both for the general
public and for social and economic operators, involving training programmes for experts, informing businesses
of the correct steps to be taken, early-warning networks for the civilian population, systems for controlling and
inspecting drainage capacities, etc. so as to forestall the consequences?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3362/97 and E-3366/97
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 1997)

The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) can finance the restoration of agricultural
and forestry production potential damaged by natural disasters and the introduction of appropriate prevention
instruments (Article 5(h) of Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 (1)). In this context, measures to train experts and
increase public awareness of prevention could be eligible, as could other work carried out with the same aim.