WRITTEN QUESTION E-1236/02 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Europe-wide voluntary auxiliary service.
Date: 2002-04-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, civil defence, environmental protection, priority region, public awareness campaign, social worker, third country, unpaid work, young person

C 277 E/164

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14.11.2002

Would it then not be advisable for the EU to become a party to the Convention?

The European Union is a signatory to the Alpine Convention. Could the EU not promote recognition of
the Dolomites as part of the World Heritage?

(1) OJ C 364 E, 20.12.2001, p. 147.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2002)

As indicated in the reply to written question E-1560/01 by Mr Ebner (1) any request to include the
Dolomites on the Natural Heritage List would benefit most from official support by those Member States,
Parties to the Convention, which are directly affected.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Convention concerning the
Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, does not allow for a Regional Economic Integration
Organisation, such as the Community, to sign or ratify this Convention. According to its Articles 31 and
32, only States can become parties to this Unesco-Convention.

The suggestion from the Honourable Member for the Community to become Party to the Convention,
would thus necessitate the adoption of an amendment Protocol to the Convention by all of its 167 current
State Parties (Liberia, being the 168th signatory, has not yet deposited its instrument of ratification, and is
thus not yet a Party). Subsequently all 167 would need to ratify such an amendment before the
Community could become Party.

Therefore, the Commission is not considering at this stage initiating steps to become a Party to the
Unesco-Convention.

(1) OJ C 364 E, 20.12.2001.

(2002/C 277 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1236/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 April 2002)

Subject: Europe-wide voluntary auxiliary service

It would be
A Europe-wide auxiliary service would undoubtedly be beneficial
particularly important and appropriate in disaster relief, first aid, welfare services and ecological work. As a
result, there would be a large number of people able to provide efficient help in emergency situations.

for a united Europe.

Can the Commission state what action it has already taken in this area, what action it intends to take in
the future, and what general plans it has in the area of disaster relief?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2002)

Since 1996 the European Voluntary Service (EVS) has been offering young people between 18-25 years
the possibility of carrying out voluntary activities for up to one year in Europe and certain third country
priority regions (currently: Southern Mediterranean, Balkans, Commmunity of Independent States (CIS),
Latin America). Thematically these voluntary activities are situated in various fields such as the social,
environmental or cultural area. Typical examples of projects are youngsters supporting the work of refugee
centers, elderly peoples’ homes, assisting in taking care for street children or drug-addicted, contributing to
environmental education, helping with fire-protection, promoting European awareness etc. An information

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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campaign was launched in the second half of the 90s in order to raise the awareness for the EVS among
civil protection organisations. However, the EVS is not planned for the deployment of volunteers in
emergency cases.

In general, civil protection is conforming to the principle of subsidiarity. The authorities in each Member
State are responsible for the conduct of civil protection within their own country.

However European cooperation in civil protection has been developed since 1985. The Community has
taken significant action in order to face major emergencies, which may require urgent response action, and
also to improve preparedness.

Moreover the Council adopted recently the Decision of the new Community mechanism in civil protection
assistance interventions (1), supplementing the current Community action programme in civil protection.

This mechanism1 facilitates the mobilisation of
intervention teams, experts and other resources, as
required, and encompasses a monitoring and information centre and a common emergency communi-
cation and information system.

With its communication to the Council and the Parliament ‘Civil protection A State of preventive alert
against possible emergencies’ (2) the Commission described what available resources have been swiftly
mobilised under current programmes and actions facing in particular the threats of terrorist attacks
(in the aftermath of 11 September 2001).

A project of the same name within the framework of the civil protection action programme had a close
look to the ‘Role of Non-Governmental Organisations’ Volunteers in Civil Protection’. The various
recommendations would enable to increase and improve the role of volunteers in civil protection. For the
details please see the website of
the Commission civil protection unit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/
environment/civil/

(1) Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom of the Council of 23 October 2001 establishing a Community mechanism to

facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions, OJ L 297, 15.11.2001.

(2) COM(2001) 707 final.

(2002/C 277 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1237/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 April 2002)

Subject: Emergency phone number in the EU

The telephone numbers which may be called in an emergency vary from one Member State to another in
the European Union. As a result, people rarely know the relevant emergency number when staying in
other Member States.

On 22 March 2002, 16 men and women from Austria were caught in a snowstorm in the Ortler region in
South Tyrol (Italy). The group leader believed that the emergency phone number ‘112’ was also valid in
South Tyrol. This was not the case. The call was answered by the carabinieri in Sondrio who only spoke
Italian and were therefore unable to help the group in distress.

This is intended as an example of how differing emergency phone numbers in the individual Member
States make it difficult to call for assistance and may even have fatal consequences.