WRITTEN QUESTION E-0212/03 by Christine De Veyrac (PPE-DE)and Hugues Martin (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Prestige disaster and European civil protection.
Date: 2003-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU aid, Galicia, civil defence, oil pollution, pollution control measures

C 242 E/108

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2003)

In its reply to Question P-0656/01, the Commission indicated that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
launched an investigation on 28 July 2000 which is still under way. OLAF is continuing to provide
assistance to the Bari Public Prosecutor’s Office in this connection.

The Commission would draw attention to OLAF’s statement that under Regulation (EC) No 1073/99 (1) it
cannot pass on information relating to the investigation, including the names of the people who may have
been or may be interviewed.

It suggests that the Honourable Member contact the Bari Public Prosecutor’s Office about the judicial
investigation which it is conducting.

However, it would point out to the Honourable Member that it has initiated a procedure to suspend the
Community contribution to projects which have had assets seized by the Italian magistrature.

This procedure, which has already been completed, should result in a few days’ time in the adoption of a
decision to suspend the contribution from the European Social Fund (ESF) to the 1994-1999 Puglia
operational programme (OP), which totals EUR 12 996 932, pending the outcome of
the judicial
investigation.

(1) Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by

the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) (cid:1) OJ L 136, 31.5.1999.

(2003/C 242 E/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0212/03

by Christine De Veyrac (PPE-DE)
and Hugues Martin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Prestige disaster and European civil protection

Have the Member States affected by the oil slick resulting from the Prestige accident made use of the
European mechanism for coordinating civil protection assistance interventions?

Can the Commission give details of the aid mobilised to date, the time needed for this and the States that
have provided aid?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2003)

Member States affected by the oil slick from the Prestige requested assistance via the EU Response Centre
for civil protection (1) that was activated on the day of the accident (13 November 2002).

The EU Response Centre, following the request of the Spanish, the Portuguese and the French authorities,
launched eight different requests for assistance of specialised vessels, aircraft, equipment and experts to
deal with the response to the pollution. The first request was launched on 14 November 2002, the last on
9 January 2003. Following the accident, an impressive quantity of resources, including 15 oil-combating
vessels, more than 20 kilometres (kms) of booms and a number of specialised surveillance aircraft, were
put at the disposal of the competent national authorities.

The Response Centre of the Commission, in co-ordination with the Spanish authorities, also acquired
satellite images of the area in the framework of the Charter ‘Space & Major Disasters’.

9.10.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/109

In co-ordination with the Spanish authorities, the Commission promptly set up a mission of observers
from the majority of the Member States who visited Galicia from 24-27 November 2002. The Community’s
mission enabled 24 experts, appointed by the national governments, to acquire specific experience in
dealing with this type of emergency.

The possibility of sending a Community task force, consisting of experts made available by the Member
States, was offered to the Spanish authorities.

Moreover, the Commission has proposed the participation of European experts in the Scientific Committee
established by the Spanish authorities in order to assess issues relating to the wreck of the Prestige.

An environmental impact assessment survey will probably be carried out, pending confirmation from the
Spanish authorities. The Commission will contribute up to EUR 300 000 to such a survey.

The Commission adopted on 5th of March a report (2) concerning past, present and future actions
undertaken at the Union level in order to remedy the consequences of the Prestige disaster and to prevent
similar accidents from occurring in the future. This report will be submitted to the European Council of
21 March.

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

reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions (cid:1) OJ L 297, 15.11.2001.

(2) COM(2003) 105 final.

(2003/C 242 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0227/03

by Roberto Bigliardo (UEN) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Management of European Funds by the region of Basilicata

Can the Commission explain why the regional council of Basilicata, which comes under Objective 1, has
used all the funding of ITL 41 billion allocated for the six-year period (1994-1999) for the measures
required up to September 1997 in its Regional Operational Programme (cid:1) POR 1994-1999, and has used
a further ITL 13 869 370 279 billion granted under the Ministry of Labour Decree of 5 June 2001 to
promote the declaration of the black economy for the period 2000-2003, to cover the employment
creation measures for the period October 1997 (cid:1) 31 December 1997? Why, moreover,
is Basilicata
indebted, now and for 1998 and 1999, in respect of employment and self-employment schemes, for which
those eligible have been given approval, for a further amount of ITL 113 298 590 000 and, to meet these
payment commitments for the years 1998 and 1999 which were entered into without financial cover,
seems intent on using funds that the EU will be granting it to finance the Regional Operational Programme
for the period 2000-2006?

Does the Commission intend to verify and clarify how the region of Basilicata is managing and using funds
provided by the European Union, how and with what resources it intends to meet payment commitments
so irresponsibly entered into without available funds or avoid a situation in which,
in order to meet
commitments entered into for the years 1997-1999, it has to draw on the financial resources granted by
the European Union for other purposes and for measures of a different kind?

What steps does the Commission intend to take to prevent the cronyism and irresponsible management of
funds by the region of Basilicata in recent years from disappointing legitimate expectations arising from
support measures officially approved for the period 2000-2006?