WRITTEN QUESTION E-2201/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Damage caused by showers of ash from Mount Etna.
Date: 2000-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Sicily, volcanic eruption

C 103 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles (1), which provides for the setting up or authorisation
of a body with the task of providing compensation for victims of accidents resulting from the use of motor
vehicles where the vehicle which caused the accident is not insured or is not identified. The guarantee fund
is the corollary of compulsory insurance; if the insurer evades that obligation, another body must cover the
risk and pay in his place.

With regard to the case referred to by the Honourable Member, if the uninsured vehicle which caused the
accident was registered in Spain, the guarantee fund of that State must provide compensation in the
absence of an insurer who could cover the risk. The interested party must contact that body direct, and the
body must reply with grounds for its action.

The Directive is the second in a series of four directives to facilitate the use of motor vehicles and to
protect the interests of victims of road accidents in the Community, irrespective of the place where the
accident happens. The first Council Directive 72/166/EC of 24 April 1972 on the approximation of the
laws of Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles,
and to the enforcement of the obligation to insure against such liability (2), made it compulsory to insure
against civil liability throughout the Community. The second and third directives (84/5/EEC and 90/232/
EEC (3)) extended and reinforced that protection. These directives cover accidents resulting from the use of
motor vehicles in the victim(cid:146)s state of residence, caused by vehicles registered and insured in that country
or in another Member State. Council Directive 90/618/EEC of 8 November 1990 amending, particularly as
regards motor vehicle insurance, Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC, which concern the coordination
of laws, regulations and administrative provision relating to direct insurance other than life assurance (4),
puts on the same footing situations where the accident occurs in the victim(cid:146)s country and the vehicle,
while registered in that country,
is insured by an insurance company of an another Member State,
operating as service providers.

Lastly, the aim of the Parliament and Council directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member
liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, amending
States relating to insurance against civil
Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC (fourth motor vehicle
insurance directive), adopted on
16 May 2000 (5), is to improve the current system with regard to the compensation of persons who,
during a temporary stay in a Member State other than their state of residence, suffered an injury caused by
a vehicle registered and insured in a Member State other than their state of residence. Article 7 states that
if identification of the vehicle is not possible or if within a period of two months following the accident,
the insurance company cannot be identified, the injured party can submit a claim for compensation to the
compensation body of the Member State where he resides. Following publication in the Official Journal,
Member States have 24 months to transpose the directive into their internal law.

(1) OJ L 8, 11.1.1984.
(2) OJ L 103, 2.5.1972.
(3) OJ L 129, 19.5.1990.
(4) OJ L 330, 29.11.1990.
(5) OJ L 181, 20.7.2000.

(2001/C 103 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2201/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Subject: Damage caused by showers of ash from Mount Etna

For the past few months the eruptive activity of Mount Etna, in Sicily, has caused constant showers of
ashes and small stones to fall over areas up to tens of kilometres away from the volcano, causing severe
damage to villages and to fruit and vegetable production on the surrounding farms.

3.4.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/87

This is an extraordinary and exceptional state of affairs which, according to vulcanologists, can be expected
to continue for some considerable time. It is a genuine natural disaster that further exacerbates the
precarious economic circumstances of this Objective 1 region.

Could the Commission state whether it intends to intervene, as it has done previously in other Member
States in similar circumstances, to assist the communities that have been so seriously affected by the
unaccustomed activity of Mount Etna, Europe(cid:146)s highest active volcano?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

The operational programme for Sicily for the 2000-2006 programming period under Objective 1 of the
Structural Funds is being drawn up at present and is expected, once the Commission has examined it, to
receive its formal approval in the months ahead.

It will be recalled that the regional authorities are responsible for the implementation of the programme,
and consequently for any decision on measures that are to be part-financed. Under the programme, Sicily
has proposed a measure to assist the prevention of natural disasters and to compensate for damage caused
to agricultural production, similar to those referred to by the Honourable Member.

Investments in these areas could qualify for Community part-financing, provided the region makes
provision for this in the programme complement.

(2001/C 103 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2202/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Proposed intercontinental airport in Sicily

(3 July 2000)

The local authorities in Sicily have included in their plans for the development of the regional air transport
system the construction of an intercontinental airport to enable Sicily, one of the larger islands in the
Mediterranean, to play a pivotal role in the provision of air links between Europe, Africa, Asia and the
other main overseas destinations.

1. What position does the Commission intend to adopt in relation to the proposal for an interconti-
nental airport on the outermost edge of Europe?

2. What criteria have been laid down for the creation of new transport (cid:145)hubs(cid:146) in the Union?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2000)

The decision to develop a new airport falls under the responsibility of local and national authorities. The
Commission and the Community have no role to play at this level of the decision process.

Should the Italian authorities request support for an airport project, the Commission will have to assess
this application on the basis of the relevant requirements and procedures for the use of Community funds.
In relation to the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) these rules are laid down in Decision
No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the
development of the trans-European network (1) and in Council Regulation No 2236/95 of 18 September
1995 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European
networks (2).