WRITTEN QUESTION E-2888/02 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Floods in Salento — European Union intervention.
Date: 2002-10-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Apulia, EU aid, flood, fund (EU), natural disaster, terms for aid

C 137 E/130

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

The procedure for the approval of major projects for support from the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF) requires the Greek authorities to submit an application as provided for under Articles 25 and
26 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the
Structural Funds (1). The application should concern the project in its definitive form.

Expenditures eligible for ERDF support can only include those submitted by the Member State in its final
application to the Commission.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2003/C 137 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2888/02

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Floods in Salento (cid:1) European Union intervention

(14 October 2002)

The Commission recently proposed to the Community budgetary authorities that a Solidarity Fund of
EUR 1 billion be set up to assist populations in the Union hit by natural disasters; the European Parliament
and the Council of the European Union have initially welcomed the Commission’s decision.

The recent floods in Puglia, and in the Salento area in particular, have destroyed most of this year’s harvest
with obvious serious economic repercussions throughout the area. In view of the severity of the floods,
they can be regarded as a major natural disaster.

Consequently, can the Commission include the Salento area in the areas eligible for exceptional aid
provided by the future Solidarity Fund for natural disasters?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2002)

The condition for the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to be mobilised is the presence of a major
disaster defined as causing damage of at least EUR 3 billion or 0,6 % of the gross national income of the
affected Member State. In exceptional circumstances the Fund may also be mobilised for extraordinary
disasters affecting the major part of a region’s population with serious and lasting effects on living
conditions and the economic stability.

The Commission does not possess an estimation on the nature and scale of the damages in Puglia.
In accordance with the regulation governing the EUSF, it is for the national authorities to submit an
application to the Commission for assistance from the Fund. Article 4 sets out the information required
and establishes the deadline of 10 weeks from the initial damage for its transmission to the Commission.

(2003/C 137 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2892/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 October 2002)

Subject: The danger of ruptures in cooling-water pipes at the High Flux Reactor in Petten, the Netherlands,

and failure to take measures to avert the danger

1.
Is the Commission aware of reports in various Dutch media that the primary inlet pipes to the
cooling-water system at the High Flux Reactor in Petten, the Netherlands, for which the Commission holds