WRITTEN QUESTION E-3247/02 by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission. Aftermath of the earthquake in Molise.
Date: 2002-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF, EU aid, Italy, aid to disaster victims, earthquake, economic consequence, less-favoured region, operational programme, regional aid

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/75

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2003)

The Commission expresses its sympathy with the inhabitants of Santa Venerina and Giarre and the
adjoining districts, severely affected by the recent eruption of Etna.

It is ready, for the purpose of helping these areas, to examine any request from the Italian authorities for
adjustment of the Operational Programme for Sicily Region. In the past it has responded favourably to
requests by regions struck by natural disaster for flexibility in Structural Fund use within the constraints of
the rules in force. Additional resources will also be available from the ‘performance reserve’. From 2004
this will be allocated to the programme provided that its mid-term evaluation is positive.

Sicily Region can also use measure 4.15 of action C of its 2000-2006 Structural Fund Objective 1
Operational Programme part-financed from the EAGGF Guidance Section. This measure allows for the
possibility following a natural disaster of assistance being granted both for non-farm infrastructure
investment needed for active protection of production and for investment for the recovery and re-
establishment of perennial cropping plants, animals, buildings and infrastructure, and machinery
and equipment. The public assistance available totals EUR 20 million,
the EAGGF contributing
EUR 10,4 million.

In addition the Italian authorities have recently sent the Commission an application, now being examined,
for mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (1). If the application is considered to meet the
Regulation’s requirements the Commission will with all speed propose to the budgetary authority a
supplementary and amending budget for mobilising the aid amount deemed appropriate.

On State aid, Article 87(2)(b) of the EC Treaty allows aid to make good the damage caused by natural
disasters or exceptional occurrences. The Commission therefore approves aid of up to 100 % compensation
for damage caused by a natural disaster.

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s view on the need for ongoing surveillance of Etna. The
Joint Research Centre can in fact offer scientific support
the
tropospheric aerosol and earth movements resulting from volcanic activity.
Its work, carried out in
collaboration with the Milan Polytechnic Institute, has a real contribution to make to establishment of a
continuous surveillance system run by the Italian authorities.

for surveillance action in two fields:

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund,

OJ L 311, 14.11.2002.

(2003/C 161 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3247/02

by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 November 2002)

Subject: Aftermath of the earthquake in Molise

On 31 October 2002, the Molise region was struck by a violent earthquake measuring eight on the
Mercalli scale, which had its epicentre in the area north-east of Campobasso and was felt throughout the
region.

Twenty-nine people died as a result of the earthquake, and hundreds were injured. In many municipalities
there was also serious damage to homes, business premises and public facilities. In some municipalities
around 80 % of the built surface area was destroyed.

C 161 E/76

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

The damage caused by the earthquake will inevitably impact on the economy of the entire region. Many
families have found themselves homeless and having to disburse huge sums, while large numbers of
family-run firms and various facilities have been destroyed and it will take many years to restore the
villages and the activities carried on there to normal.

Considering that a state of calamity and emergency has been declared in the region, and in view of the
serious economic repercussions confronting the local population, does the Commission feel that the
circumstances dictate that Molise should be granted the benefits applicable to an Objective One region?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2003)

The Honourable Member is informed that Molise, classed as an Objective 1 region (transitional support)
for the 2000-2006 period, already enjoys the same opportunities as the other Objective 1 regions. An
Operational Programme for EUR 605 million (Community contribution EUR 115 million)
is helping
promote sustainable economic development. One of its measures is concerned with ‘restoring agricultural
production potential affected by natural disasters and putting suitable means of prevention in place’.

The provisions on aid from the EAGGF also include the possibility in the rural development framework of
a measure for ‘renovation and development of villages and rural heritage conservation’.

The Commission is prepared to examine any proposal from the regional and national authorities for
adjustment of the Operational Programme in progress in order to concentrate available resources on
existing or new measures that will help overcome certain problems following the earthquake.

The Commission also refers the Honourable Member to its reply to Written Questions E-3258/02 by
Mrs Muscardini and Mrs Poli and E-3434/02 by Mrs Angelilli (1), which indicates the various Community-
level measures that can be brought into play when natural disasters occur and the conditions under which
they apply.

(1) See page 78.

(2003/C 161 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3257/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(19 November 2002)

Subject: European border police force

With reference to the topics discussed by the European Council in Seville concerning the fight against
illegal immigration, asylum and the management of external borders, can the Commission say:

1. What measures have been taken to create a European border police force?

2. Have priorities been defined for readmission agreements,

in particular with those countries from

which most illegal immigrants come?

3. Have the resources available at Community level been adjusted to cover repatriation, management of

external borders and asylum and migration projects in non-member countries?