WRITTEN QUESTION No. 189/99 by Angela SIERRA GONZÁLEZ Serious damage resulting from the storm which occurred in the Canary Islands
Date: 1999-02-11
Institutions: European Parliament, SIERRA GONZALEZ
Subjects: Canary Islands, EU aid, agricultural holding, bad weather, degradation of the environment, financial aid, harbour installation, transport infrastructure

29.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 341/65

The Commission does indeed feel that an agreement of this nature could be contrary to the principles
associated with the internal market.

The conclusions of the Presidency of the Vienna European Council of 11-12 December 1998 reconfirm that
‘employment is the top priority of the European Union’.

Subsequently, the 1999 employment guidelines have been formally adopted by a Council resolution of
22 February 1999. In paragraph 16 of these employment guidelines, the Council invites the social partners to
negotiate at all appropriate levels agreements to modernise the organisation of work, including flexible
working arrangements, with the aim of making undertakings productive and competitive and achieving the
required balance between flexibility and security.

Paragraph 9 of the 1999 employment guidelines states that each Member State will give special attention to
the needs of the disabled, ethnic minorities and other groups and individuals who may be disadvantaged, and
develop appropriate forms of preventive and active policies to promote their integration into the labour
market. From an employment perspective those aspects of the agreement which promote employment
creation should, therefore, be welcomed.

(1999/C 341/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0189/99

by Angela Sierra González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Serious damage resulting from the storm which occurred in the Canary Islands

During the first week of January 1999 a violent storm struck the Canary Islands and seriously damaged
infrastructure installations which are essential to the functioning of the islands.

The damage caused by the storm has particularly affected the farms on the islands, port facilities and the road
system.

The Canary Islands Government has set up a special committee to record the damage suffered and the value of
the losses has been estimated at 16 500 million pesetas.

Is the Commission aware of the extent of the damage?

Is the Commission thinking of providing anything in the way of financial assistance in order to pay for the
repair of the damaged infrastructure installations?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 1999)

The Spanish authorities have not yet sent the Commission any communication concerning the damage caused
by the storm which struck the Canary Islands during the first week of January 1999.

At the next meeting of the Monitoring Committees for structural assistance on the Canary Islands, the
Commission will propose that the national and regional authorities should look, in partnership, at the possible
scope for reprogramming and whether existing resources could be allocated to implementing measures to
rebuild the damaged infrastructure.

(1999/C 341/091)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0191/99

by Irene Soltwedel-Schäfer (V) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Fatalities caused by the new variant of Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (nvCJD) and the number of cases of

nvCJD currently diagnosed in Great Britain

1.

2.

How many deaths were caused by nvCJD in Great Britain in 1996?

How many deaths were caused by nvCJD in Great Britain in 1997?