WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3394/98 by Marco CELLAI Non-compliance by Italy with directives laying down the ratio of firemen to population
Date: 1998-11-17
Institutions: CELLAI, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, Italy, action programme, application of EU law, civil defence, competence of the Member States, fire protection, public safety

C 320/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.11.1999

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1998)

Since the Commission proposal for a Regulation providing for the adoption of special measures for the
termination of service of Community officials in the institutions is still before the Council, the Commission
does not plan to adopt any other measures regarding this matter.

In addition, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the Council is appealing to the Court
of Justice against the judgments given by the Court of First Instance on 30 September 1998 in Cases T-154/96
and T-13/97.

(1999/C 320/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3394/98

by Marco Cellai (NI) to the Commission

(17 November 1998)

Subject: Non-compliance by Italy with directives laying down the ratio of firemen to population

The geology of Italy is such that a large part of it is deemed to be subject to the risk of earthquakes. Forest fires,
especially those started maliciously, follow an annual dramatic ritual entailing the destruction of hundreds of
hectares of forest and scrub. Disastrous floods occur every year, resulting in landslides which are often
attributable to deforestation and neglect. The fire protection systems of many public structures and buildings
forming part of Italy’s cultural inheritance (Turin Cathedral and the Petruzelli and Fenice Theatres) are outdated
and obsolete.

This situation is made worse by the lack of coordination between the Fire Service, which comes under the
Ministry of the Interior, and the Department of Civil Protection, which comes under the authority of the Prime
Minister.

Finally, there are 25 000 firemen for a population of 60 million; this ratio is markedly below that laid down by
Community directives (one fireman per 1 000 population), and this limited manpower is insufficient to ensure
the complete safety of Italians and Italian territory.

Will the Commission state for how much longer it will accept Italian non-compliance? Does it not intend to
call upon the Italian Government to show greater responsibility with regard to damage which could, at least in
part, be avoided if the established rules were complied with and, in particular, to direct it to provide for an
increase in the number of firemen in accordance with Community legislation?

Answer give by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 1999)

On the basis of Council Decision 98/22/EC establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil
protection (1), the Commission supports actions on public information for those responsible for and involved
in civil protection. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, this Community cooperation, taking the
form of a series of actions proposed by the authorities of the Member State, supports and supplements national
policies on civil protection in order to enhance their effectiveness. Coordination between national services and
the level of these services fall within the competence of the Member States.

(1) OJ L 8, 14.1.1998.