WRITTEN QUESTION P-1439/02 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Desertification emergency in Sicily.
Date: 2002-05-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF Guidance Section, European Regional Development Fund, Sicily, desertification, drought, erosion, groundwater, supply, surface water, water resources

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/205

Several key activity domains like web security, require a multidisciplinary approach to deliver acceptable
results and solutions. The new funding instruments for the 6th Framework Programme for Research and
Development, such as integrated projects (IP) and networks of excellence (NoE), have been prepared to
bring together constituencies in a coordinated manner.

In addition, the ‘Participation for all in the knowledge based economy’ part of the eEurope 2002 action
lines are integrated in nature, bringing together technology as well as societal, legislative, economical and
standardisation knowledge and expertise.

(2002/C 277 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1439/02

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(15 May 2002)

Subject: Desertification emergency in Sicily

The drought which has affected Sicily for two years now is clearly no passing phenomenon but an
alarming situation and a veritable disaster.

The water shortage is seriously damaging not only agriculture and stock-farming, but also the water supply
in inhabited areas, in some of which rationing has started.

The disaster, due to the dramatically reduced rainfall,
is exacerbated by the lack of appropriate and
adequate facilities in the regional water supply, so that no suitable solution can be implemented in the
short or medium term.

The ordinary measures carried out by the regional and national governments are totally inadequate to
tackle the seriousness of the situation.

Can the Commission say:

2 what special measures can be adopted to tackle the slow but inexorable process of desertification in

Sicily, doomed to share the fate of the neighbouring continent of Africa;

2 whether it does not consider that it should set up a special committee of experts to examine possible
in order to prevent, whilst there is still time, a disaster on an

solutions as rapidly as possible,
unimaginable scale from overwhelming the largest island in the Mediterranean?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2002)

In the framework of the Structural Funds, the operational programme for Sicily during the 2000-2006
programming period foresees measures related to water
supplies for about
€ 170 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and € 94 million from the European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) 2 Guidance Section. The Commission would
emphasise that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, both the selection and implementation of
projects are under the responsibility of the regional authorities charged with the management and
monitoring of the programmes co-financed by the funds mentioned above.

resources and water

An update and revision of those programmes including the financial resources in order to respond more
effectively to a changed situation is foreseen for 2003. In case the severe situation described by the
Honourable Member is confirmed, the revision of the programme could incorporate the required changes,
which should allow to face more effectively the shortage in water supply. The initiative for the revision of
the programmes for Sicily lies, however, with the national and regional Italian authorities.

Water policy issues including water supply for human use are primarily regulated by Directive 2000/60/EC
of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 and establishing a framework for Community
action in the field of water policy (1).

C 277 E/206

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

The objectives of the water framework directive include at least two items of relevance to the situation as
described in the written question: to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters,
transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater which:

(a) promotes sustainable water use based on a long-term protection of available water resources and

(b) contributes to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts. The Directive should thereby contribute to
the provision of the sufficient supply of good quality surface water and groundwater as needed for
sustainable balanced and equitable water use.

The Commission has adopted on 16 April 2002 a Communication to the Council, the Parliament, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘Towards a thematic strategy for soil
protection’ (2). This Communication addresses desertification in the context of soil degradation processes
such as erosion. The Communication acknowledges that the Mediterranean region is severely affected by
erosion. The impact on the environment, the water reservoirs and the agricultural land represents a major
threat for these regions.

In the Union drylands are mainly located in Southern Spain and Portugal, the Italian Mezzogiorno, most of
the mainland and islands in Greece and Southern France. In these regions 60 % of the land is threatened or
affected by desertification and soil degradation. Therefore these Member States have joined their efforts
within the framework of a regional annex for the Northern Mediterranean in the context of the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Those Mediterranean Member States and Italy in particular,
in which they analyse the
have adopted National Action Programmes to combat desertification (3),
desertification process and identify actions to be undertaken.

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.
(2) COM(2002) 179 final.
(3) UN-CCD Secretariat/Italian National Action Programme: http://www.unccd.int/actionprogrammes/northmed/
national/2000/italy-eng.pdf, Comitato Nazionale Italiano per la lotta alla siccità e alla desertificazione: http://
www.desertification.it/.

(2002/C 277 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1445/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Subject: The extent of the Commission ban on the importation of selected Chinese food products

The Commission recently banned a number of food imports from China, including fish, honey and poultry
because of the lack of confidence in the validity of export certificates which are supposed to guarantee the
safety of these products. Can the Commission indicate the particular areas of concern and whether
progress has been made in ensuring that any future imports of these products will be properly checked by
the Chinese authorities?

Could the Commission also confirm that the ban has been extended to catches of shrimp by Chinese
vessels operating in International Waters and landed directly onto Community ports, and, if that is correct,
to explain the justification for extending the ban in this way?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2002)

On 30 January 2002, the Commission banned a series of products of animal origin from China intended
for human consumption or for animal feed use.