WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1035/98 by Fernando FERNÁNDEZ MARTÍN to the Commission. The effects of 'El Niño'
Date: 1998-04-06
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ MARTIN
Subjects: EU financing, East Africa, Latin America, aid to disaster victims, bad weather, climate change, emergency aid, meteorology, natural disaster, non-governmental organisation

22.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 402/63

(98/C 402/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1035/98

by Fernando FernÆndez Mart(cid:237)n (PPE) to the Commission

(6 April 1998)

Subject: The effects of (cid:145)El Niæo(cid:146)

The (cid:145)El Niæo(cid:146) phenomenon is having increasingly serious effects in various regions of the world › natural
disasters such as floods and storms are followed by severe drought, causing fires and destroying crops and
leaving people hungry, poor and destitute, often in regions which are already in themselves disadvantaged.

In order to prevent worse disasters, has the Commission introduced any mechanism for predicting the effects of
(cid:145)El Niæo(cid:146)?

Are there any programmes designed to mitigate these effects and provide emergency aid for the countries
affected?

Is the Commission working in collaboration with any international organization in this field?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 1998)

Researchers have for many years recognized the important role of El Niæo (or Southern Oscillation phenomena
(ENSO)) in the climate system and the Commission has supported important research on the phenomenon.

Under the current (cid:145)Environment and climate programme(cid:146) (1994-1998), the (cid:145)Prediction of climate variations on
seasonal timescales(cid:146) (Provost) project is investigating the prospects for seasonal and interannual climate
predictions, and has pioneered a global atmosphere-ocean modelling system which shows great promise for
future operational forecasts. This project also utilises satellite and other observations over the El Niæo region in
the Pacific Ocean. The model predictions of last year(cid:146)s El Niæo and its related climate anomalies are particularly
encouraging. Part of the products from this (still experimental) project are now available on the Internet,
including the predicted effects of El Niæo on different regions of the world (including Europe).

Results from other research underline the link to the global climate system in a (cid:145)post-Kyoto(cid:146) perspective,
indicating that global warming may cause El Niæo and ENSO variability to increase.

In September 1997 the Commission set up a working party to monitor developments in the El Niæo phenomenon
and prepare preventive action. In addition to the emergency aid already allocated by the Commission to the
affected countries in Central and Latin America and East Africa, totalling ECU 21 million to date, a special
programme has been approved by the Commission to the tune of ECU 77 million, financed by the Community
budget ((cid:145)food aid and security(cid:146) head).

The Commission works in coordination with the agencies of the United Nations (including the World Food
Programme), the International Federation of the Red Cross and various European non-governmental organisa-
tions working in the countries affected by El Niæo.

(98/C 402/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1038/98

by Nel van Dijk (V) to the Commission

(6 April 1998)

Subject: Economic espionage and State aid

Can the Commission confirm that Title V of the EC Treaty (rules on competition, particularly Articles 92 to 94
concerning State aid) applies to the passing-on by governments to businesses of confidential information about
their competitors or other governments which has been gathered by national intelligence or security services?