WRITTEN QUESTION E-0146/02 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Establishment of a European Civil Protection Agency.
Date: 2002-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU office or agency, Structural Funds, action programme, approximation of laws, civil defence, environmental risk prevention, natural disaster

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/155

The Commission bases this revision upon epidemiological research done by the World Health Organisation
(WHO) (3), confirmed by further epidemiological studies. The WHO report states how gastro-intestinal risk
levels relate to concentrations of
in bathing water.
According to the WHO, the value of 35 colony-forming units (cfu) faecal streptococci mentioned by the
Honourable Member is below the NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level). The Commission agrees
however that 10 000 cfu FS per 100 ml is a very high concentration and would be pleased to receive more
detailed information on how and on which site this result was obtained.

Intestinal Enterococci

(Faecal Streptococci

(FS))

The general water quality of inland and coastal waters is subject to the urban wastewater Directive
(Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment (4) as amended by
Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998 (5)), the Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC of
12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from
agricultural sources (6)), the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the
Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water
policy (7)) and the relating monitoring schemes. Following the urban wastewater Directive, secondary
treatment is a rule, but Member States must provide higher standards in order to comply with all Council
Directives. The new and revised bathing water Directive will, when adopted, oblige Member States to make
their bathing waters comply with new parameters and thresholds.

Under the influence of the current directive, European bathing water quality has improved considerably.
From 1993 up to the year 2000, coastal bathing water quality has increased every year, as the compliance
rate has moved upwards from 74 % to almost 97 %. For freshwater zones, compliance rate has also
increased every year, and has now reached 94 % (30 % only in 1993).

Taking into account public health, the revised directive aims at a further improvement of bathing water
quality.

(1) Council Directive 76/160/EEC of 8 December 1975 concerning the quality of bathing water.
(2) COM(2000) 860 final.
(3) See http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/Recreational_water/wsh01-2.pdf.
(4) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.
(5) OJ L 67, 7.3.1998.
(6) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991.
(7) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(2002/C 172 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0146/02

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Establishment of a European Civil Protection Agency

(1 February 2002)

In Europe, civil protection in relation to natural disasters comes under the responsibility of the Member
States. In some of these countries the lack of provision and awareness in this area is quite alarming.

The Commission:

1. Does it not consider that it should set up a European Civil Protection Agency, to be responsible for
including work carried out on a

risk detection and prevention and management of emergencies,
voluntary basis?

2. What measures does it intend to promote to harmonise the laws of EU member States in the field of

civil protection?

3. Would it agree that appropriations should be entered in the budget @ along the same lines as the
successful experience of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency @ with a view not only to
repairing the damage caused by natural disasters, but above all to funding preventive action to
eradicate or reduce wherever possible the causes of disasters?

C 172 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2002)

Irrespective of the possibility of setting up a European Civil Protection Agency, the Commission wishes to
draw the Honourable Member’s attention to Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999
establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection (1). The programme states,
among other things, that action to prevent risks and damage and to provide information and prepare those
responsible for and involved in civil protection in the Member States is important and increases the degree
of preparedness for accidents.

With regard to the uniformity of Member States’ legislation in this area, the Commission wishes to remind
the honourable Member that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, Community cooperation
supports and supplements the national civil protection policies in order to make them more effective. The
pooling of experience and mutual assistance will help to reduce losses of human life, physical and material
damage, economic losses and environmental damage throughout the Community by making the aims of
social cohesion and solidarity more tangible. However, the above programme excludes any measures aimed
at the harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States or the way in which their national
preparedness is organised.

Going beyond the implementation and development of the above Decision, the Commission wishes to
inform the Honourable Member that it has planned to give consideration to an integrated strategy on
prevention, preparedness and response to natural and other hazards in its 2002 work programme.

During the 2000-2006 programming period, funding is available from the Structural Funds for action to
prevent natural or technological disasters, under both regional programmes and trans-frontier and trans-
national cooperation programmes. Some regional programmes include preventive measures for natural
risks (strengthening of river embankments; equipment
fires; erosion
protection, etc.). There is also provision for preventive action as part of trans-frontier and trans-national
cooperation, e.g. alerts relating to flooding and technological disasters; establishment of pluri-national
centres to combat forest fires; cooperation relating to the safety of popular mountain areas, etc.

for centres to combat

forest

The Structural Funds can also finance some reconstruction work after natural or technological disasters
(except of dwellings) as part of the regional programmes and in the normally eligible zones.

(1) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.

(2002/C 172 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0147/02

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(1 February 2002)

Subject: Beet-growers in southern Italy

Does the Commission intend to take action to support beet-growers in southern Italy by providing a
regional contribution to cover part of the depreciation costs of irrigation systems, given the following:

1.

2.

the fact
Article 4.9/N @ (Reg. EC 1257/99 (1)) ‘sugar beet growing’,

that

the EU has approved, under the Regional Operational Programme for Sardinia,

the fact that installations set up for more than five years may be considered as forms of structural
intervention,

3.

the need for maximum rationalisation of water resources in southern Italy.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.