WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1621/98 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Urgent aid to Borneo
Date: 1998-05-27
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: Borneo, emergency aid, environmental protection, financial aid, fire, humanitarian aid, natural disaster, non-governmental organisation, protection of animal life, protection of plant life

C 13/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

Overall, these measures should help ease Dublin(cid:146)s traffic congestion and will complement investment in the
revised LUAS project.

(1999/C 13/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1621/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Urgent aid to Borneo

In the light of the recent fires in Borneo, which are threatening flora, fauna, the environment and the livelihood of
its people, will the Commission be making emergency aid available and taking supportive action in an attempt to
prevent any recurrence?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 1998)

The mandate of the European Community humanitarian office (ECHO) is to provide humanitarian assistance to
populations affected by conflicts and natural disasters. In the light of this, the Commission has no competence to
take initiatives in the realm of flora, fauna or environmental issues, even though it may assist in the protection of
the livelihood of the populations affectd by the forest fires in Borneo.

The Commission sent a mission to the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan, one of the most affected forest
fire regions. Following this, an assessment was made and confirmed by a later mission in the same area which
concluded that there was enough food being brought in by other donors, though medical and drinking water needs
were not being met and required further contributions.

In the light of this assessment, non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners went to the region on an
exploratory mission as a result of which the Commission has put forward a financial allocation of 1 MECU for
Indonesia within which East Kalimantan has been included as a beneficiary area.

On the other hand, taking into account the grave threats posed to the environment by land and forest fires in
Indonesia and in other parts of the world, the Commission is actively participating in the international discussions
aimed at setting up a strategic approach in coordination with interested donors to support both short-term actions
to combat the recurrence of such uncontrolled fires and the organisation of appropriate structures for fire
prevention and control in the medium and long term.

(1999/C 13/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1627/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Fifth framework programme for RTDD (budget for implementation)

With regard to the amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision concerning the Fifth
framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (1998-2002) and to
the amended proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Fifth framework programme of the European
Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for research and training activities (1998-2002) (COM(97) 439 final ›
97/0119 COD › 97/0120 CNS) (1).

Can the Commission ensure close interaction between the framework programme and non-Community European
cooperation programmes, especially Eureka and COST, and can it draw up, on the basis of analyses of specific
geographical areas, a measure subdivided into the following areas: the CEEC countries, the Mediterranean Basin,
the NIS countries, Asian and Latin American countries with dynamic economies, the developing countries and
industrialized non-member countries?

(1) OJ C 291, 25.9.1997, p. 15-16.