WRITTEN QUESTION P-2319/00 by Véronique Mathieu (EDD) to the Commission. Civil protection and combatting fires caused by storms.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, action programme, bad weather, civil defence, fire protection, forest, public safety

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/85

(2001/C 113 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2319/00

by VØronique Mathieu (EDD) to the Commission

Subject: Civil protection and combatting fires caused by storms

(30 June 2000)

The storms which occurred in December 1999 are continuing to have an impact, as European forests
affected by the storms are threatened with the risk of fire. Outbreaks of fires have already been recorded in
some forests.

Preventing disasters means improving fire safety.

Does the Commission not consider that the prevention of fires resulting from the effects of the
1.
storms comes within the scope of the Community programme in the field of civil protection established by
the Council decision of 9 December 1999?

How does the Commission apply the precautionary principle which is the subject of its communica-

2.
tion of 2 February 2000 to the prevention of fires resulting from the storms?

Could the Commission say whether an assessment of the risk of fires resulting from the storms has

3.
been carried out at Community level?

4. What measures have been co-financed under Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 (1) which provides for a
Community scheme for the protection of forests against fire aimed at:

(cid:129) identifying the causes of forest fires;

(cid:129) identifying the means of combatting them?

5. What steps does the Commission intend to take in order to improve the system for monitoring
forests following natural or technological disasters?

(1) OJ L 217, 31.7.1992.

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The Commission confirms that, as the Honourable Member points out, the storms of December 1999 have
aggravated the risks of forest fire not only by increasing combustibility (dead, dry or broken trees), but also
by making it more difficult to reach any fires which occur (inaccessible tracks and water points, tangled
windfalls in stands).

1. and 3.
Prevention of fires and assessment of fire risks resulting from storms(cid:146) effects could be covered
by Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999 establishing a Community action programme in
the field of civil protection (1), provided that the eligibility criteria stipulated are met. However, specific
measures which are eligible under other Community instruments cannot be financed under the action
programme.

2.
Natural disasters such as the storm of December 1999 are exceptional and unforeseeable phenomena.
Nevertheless, and although it did not directly carry out an assessment of the fire risks resulting from the
storms, the Commission can take the initiative in asking Member States to take into account
the
assessment of that risk in the forest-fire protection plans submitted under Article 3 of Regulation (EEC)
No 2158/92 (2).

Between 1992 and 1999, € 18 million were allocated under Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 to
4.
measures concerned with the causes of fire. The measures related to providing information and raising
public awareness, studying risk forecast systems, setting up cause investigation teams, studying the causes
of fire and the resources needed to fight them (rubbish dump inventory and absorption plan, fires
stemming from electricity, fires stemming from farming), monitoring weather conditions and making
digitised risk maps.

C 113 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

If Member States so wish, the Commission will gladly examine (cid:129) in the context of Member States(cid:146)
5.
annual forest-fire protection plans and within the limits of the appropriations available (cid:129) proposals for
improving forest-fire protection measures, and particularly forest-fire monitoring, in storm-affected areas at
risk. The Commission has just developed a new system for daily notification of the forest-fire risk level.
The system, which uses satellites to identify risks, is undergoing trials from 15 June to 30 September 2000.
On the basis that parameters relating to plant stress and evapotranspiration of wooded areas play a
predominant role, the system constitutes a highly reliable instrument.

(1) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.
(2) Within the meaning of Article 2 of the Regulation.

(2001/C 113 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2330/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: German backdated pensions tax

The German Government has recently requested of freelance teachers that they backpay 19,5 % of their
income for the past four years into the state pension fund.

While recognising that it should be up to Member States to determine their own tax rates, can the
Commission confirm whether in its opinion:

1.

2.

freelance teachers have been discriminated against unfairly in this process, and

retrospective taxation rises are not in breach of Community law?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2000)

The Commission was not aware of the issue raised by the Honourable Member.

However, there is no prima facie evidence that Community law has been infringed. This could be the case
if this request for contributions was discriminatory, either on the grounds of nationality or of sex.

It should be noted that the German authorities are requesting the payment of pension contributions which
should give rise to benefit entitlements.

(2001/C 113 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2366/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Economic viability of Spata airport

(13 July 2000)

According to Greek press reports, the Vice-President of the European Investment Bank which is co-funding
the construction of Spata airport has expressed his concern about the economic viability of the project in
letters to the management of Athens International Airport.