WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3396/97 by Fernando FERNÁNDEZ MARTÍN to the Commission. Effect of the Sumatra and Borneo forest fires on climate change
Date: 1997-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ MARTIN
Subjects: Borneo, Indonesia, Sumatra, climate change, degradation of the environment, environmental impact, fire, forest, natural disaster

C 134/158

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 1997)

The  Commission  intends  to  publish  its  detailed  proposals  on  rural  development  in  the  context  of  the  overall
Agenda 2000 (1) package in the first three months of 1998.

(1)  Doc. COM(97) 2000 final.

(98/C 134/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3396/97

by Fernando Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n (PPE) to the Commission

(23 October 1997)

Subject: Effect of the Sumatra and Borneo forest fires on climate change

The eruption of the volcano Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 not only affected the regional atmosphere,
but also caused world-wide temperatures to cool slightly. The same region (Sumatra and Borneo) is now beset by
sweeping forest fires.

Has the Commission taken any steps to gauge the impact of these fires on climate change, bearing in mind that
their adverse effects must be added to those of the above-mentioned eruption?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 1997)

The  Commission  and  Member  States  in  Jakarta  have  set  up  a  joint  European  Union  fire  response  group
(EUFREG) in response to the emergency situation created by the large-scale forest fires in Indonesia affecting an
estimated 1 million hectares.

EUFREG will now enter into its second phase, assessing the area, type, classification and use of land burned in
this year(cid:146)s fires, mainly through the analysis of remote sensing data. It will also prepare terms of reference for a
review  mission  on  this  year(cid:146)s  forest  fires  with  the  objective  of  assisting  the  government  of  Indonesia  to
implement improved policies and practices to avoid, or at least minimize, any repetition of this year(cid:146)s disaster.

The Commission will continue to co-ordinate with the Indonesian government and is willing to assist in a major
study on the medium and long-term impact of the forest fires on the regional and global environment and climate.

The Indonesian government already organized an international conference on science and technology for the
assessment  of  global  environment  change  and  its  impact  on  Indonesian  maritime  continent  in  Jakarta  from
10-12 November 1997, with active Commission participation.

(98/C 134/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3414/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(28 October 1997)

Subject: World trade and protection of animals

The  European  Commission  has  often  indicated  that  a  WTO  arbitration  decision  would  not  produce  any
clarification in favour of European animal protection provisions. The decision on hormones appears to confirm
this assessment.

1, What  is  the  next  stage  if  this  decision  is  maintained?  What  can  be  done  to  prevent  the  EU(cid:146)s  animal
protection provisions being eliminated one after the other?

Is  there  a  greater  possibility  of  success  in  other  cases,  or  must  action  now  focus  on  new  negotiations,

2.
reinterpretation or even changes to WTO provisions?