WRITTEN QUESTION E-2470/00 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Stefano Zappalà (PPE-DE), Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE), Pier Casini (PPE-DE), Generoso Andria (PPE-DE), Mario Mauro (PPE-DE), Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE), Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE), Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE) and Giuseppe Nisticò (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Outbreak of fires in central and southern Italy.
Date: 2000-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Italy, Mediterranean forest, civil defence, fire, fire protection

C 113 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2000)

The Commission is not aware that the railway line (cid:145)Hogesnelheidslijn-Zuid(cid:146) between Amsterdam and
Brussels (hereafter (cid:145)HSL(cid:146)) will cut through the western part of the Biesbosch.

The Biesbosch had been designated as a special protection area (SPA) within the meaning of the Council
Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1) and has been proposed by the
Netherlands as a site of Community importance (SCI) within the meaning of Council Directive 92/43/EEC
of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna (2).

According to Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on
an SCI shall be subject to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site. The national authorities
shall agree to the project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the site and, if
appropriate, after having obtained the opinion of the general public.

According to Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC if, in spite of a negative assessment of the implications
for the site and in the absence of alternative solutions, the project must nevertheless be carried out for
imperative reasons of overriding public interest, the Member State shall take all compensatory measures
necessary to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected. It shall inform the Commission
of the compensatory measures adopted.

Pursuant to Article 7 of Directive 92/43/EEC the obligations under Article 6(3) and 6(4) of that Directive
not only apply to SCIs but also to SPAs.

The Dutch authorities have not yet informed the Commission about the compensation measures that they
intend to take in the Biesbosch as a result of the construction of the railway line, as they are obliged to do
pursuant to Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC. However, since this railway line has not been constructed
so far, the measures are not to be taken yet nor has the Commission to be informed.

The Commission has asked the Dutch authorities to provide information about the application of Directive
79/409/EEC and Directive 92/43/EEC as well as Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment
of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (3) with respect to the HSL.

Should the Netherlands(cid:146) answer reveal any grounds of non-compliance with the above mentioned
Directives, the Commission will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to ensure that those Directives
are fully respected by the Dutch authorities.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(3) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2001/C 113 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2470/00

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Stefano Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE), Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE),
Pier Casini (PPE-DE), Generoso Andria (PPE-DE), Mario Mauro (PPE-DE),
Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE), Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE), Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE)
and Giuseppe Nistic(cid:242) (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Outbreak of fires in central and southern Italy

(24 July 2000)

What will the Commission do to tackle the serious emergency caused by the fires raging across central and
southern Italy, destroying vast areas of Mediterranean scrubland and threatening many homes?

What measures will the Commission take to protect forestry that is at risk, particularly in the Mediterra-
nean regions?

18.4.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/103

Does the Commission intend to promote the setting up of a European civil protection service, as proposed
at the Feira Council?

What decisive action will the EU take to prevent the outbreak of fires damaging the tourist season?

How will it pursue the measures provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) 2158/92, notably with a view to
strengthening the cohesion of the forestry measures funded in areas at risk from fires, stepping up
measures to tackle the causes of fires, and improving prevention and surveillance mechanisms?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2000)

On 17 July 2000 the Commission under Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 of 23 July 1992 on protection of
the Community(cid:146)s forests against fire (1) approved a programme of € 3 680 000 (Community contribution
€ 1 670 000) on protection of forests against fire presented by the Italian Government for the year 2000.
This covers surveillance, including as it does provision of four-wheel drive vehicles for initial intervention
and of radio equipment, creation of tracks, firebreaks and water supply points, personnel training, research
on the causes of fires and public information campaigns. One third of the Community support is assigned
to the Regions of Tuscany, Abruzzi, Molise, Campania, Apulia and Basilicata.

Firefighting, and more generally action in emergency situations, remains the responsibility of Member
States. The Commission has however just launched the pilot phase of a project on short-term fire risk
forecasting. The project involves participation by the operational centres of all the southern Member States
and is based on satellite observation. It will help optimise mutual assistance between Member States
through more efficient planning.

Under Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 the Commission has for the year 2000 approved six forest fire
protection programmes in high risk Community areas. Total expenditure on these will be € 18 000 000,
the Community contributing € 8 7 000 000. Since 1992 more than € 224 000 000 (Community contribu-
tion € 104 000 000) has been invested in protecting regions at risk in the Community.

At the Santa Maria da Feira European Council on 19 and 20 June 2000 it was agreed that in the field of
civil protection improvement of the specific coordination mechanisms already existing was both needed an
dpossible. The Commission had already decided on 30 May to send the Council a proposal for increasing
Community resources in this field.

Further information on the Community(cid:146)s civil protection activities can be found at:

http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/civil/

Action under national forest protection programmes covers all risk zones in the Member States concerned,
including forests located in tourist areas, hence indirectly helps protect installations and infrastructure in
these areas. But if the Italian Government so wishes the Commission is quite prepared depending on
available funds to reinforce under forthcoming annual programmes action in zones that are particularly
sensitive as regards tourism.

Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 expires at the end of 2001 and the Commission is preparing proposals for
the continuation of protective action against forest fires.

(1) OJ L 217, 31.7.1992.