WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2819/98 by Gianni TAMINO to the Commission. EU-Japan cooperation in seismic engineering
Date: 1998-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, TAMINO
Subjects: Japan, cooperation policy, earthquake, international cooperation, research policy, scientific cooperation, scientific research, seismic monitoring, seismology, technical cooperation

C 142/42

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.5.1999

(1999/C 142/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2819/98

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Subject: EU-Japan cooperation in seismic engineering

The damage caused recently by earthquakes (Los Angeles, Kobe, Italy, etc.) has underscored the global
nature of the problem of protecting structures from earthquakes.

During the visit made by Commissioner Edith Cresson shortly after the Kobe earthquake, the European
Union and Japan decided to step up their collaboration in the area of seismic engineering.

On that occasion, an agreement was reached on collaboration between the Japanese Construction
Ministry’s ‘Building Research Institute’ and the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety of the
European Union’s Joint Research Centre.

Collaboration has continued for three years, and has involved the exchange of information, scientific
findings and personnel. Now the need to perform large-scale experiments for the harmonisation of design
rules has been recognised.

In view of the damage caused recently by earthquakes, the need to tackle the problem of earthquakes by
means of worldwide cooperation, the success of the current EU-Japan cooperation, and the fifth
framework programme for research, which points out the strategic importance for the European Union
of encouraging cooperation with third countries in the field of research and fostering inventions in order to
bolster the EU’s international role, can the Commission say whether there are any specific budget lines
relating to the implementation of the fifth framework programme for research that ensure that cooperation
will continue satisfactorily, or at any rate, how it intends to ensure that EU-Japan cooperation in this area
continues?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 1998)

The problem of the protection of structures from earthquakes is recognised as very important by the
Commission, which has funded substantial research within the 4th Research and development (R&D)
framework programme.

It is foreseen to continue this support for the next framework programme through the generic activities on
natural risks of the specific programme related to the environment. Moreover, as indicated by the
Honourable Member, an efficient cooperation with Japan exists presently in this field.

Until now, general scientific and technological cooperation with Japan is financed with the B67211 budget
line (international cooperation in the 4th framework programme). The same possibilities will exist in the
5th framework programme with the B66211 budget line.

(1999/C 142/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2835/98

by Niall Andrews (UPE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Sellafield

Is the Commission aware of the recent leakage into the Irish Sea from the Sellafield Nuclear Reprocessing
Plant and has it made enquiries of the British Government on the matter? If so, what was the response from
the British Government?