WRITTEN QUESTION E-0721/03 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Prestige: setting up a European civil protection force.
Date: 2003-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, European Maritime Safety Agency, civil defence, oil pollution, pollution control measures, powers of the institutions (EU)

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/73

(2004/C 33 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0721/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Prestige: setting up a European civil protection force

(11 March 2003)

On 19 December 2002 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on safety at sea and measures to
alleviate the effects of the Prestige disaster. Paragraph 20 calls for the setting up of ‘a European civil
protection force capable of responding to natural and industrial disasters, to create a legal framework for
European responses to disasters and to appoint a Commissioner responsible’.

What measures has the Commission taken or does it intend to take in response?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Treaty establishing the European Union does not allow for a European Civil Protection Force.
Consequently, a Commission co-ordination mechanism to facilitate reinforced co-operation in civil
protection assistance interventions (1) entered into force on 1st January 2002. Civil protection measures at
Union level have strictly to respect the principle of subsidiarity.

The Union Response Centre, established in the above-mentioned framework, co-ordinates the assistance
offered by the Member States in case of accidents.

Moreover, the Commission is also running a specific action programme in the field of response to marine
pollution (2).

Finally, the Commission already announced its intention to ammend the Regulation creating the European
Maritime Safety Agency in order to allow EMSA to purchase or lease anti-pollution ships in cases of
maritime pollution in the Union.

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

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

(2) Decision No 2850/2000/EC of 20 December 2000 of the Parliament and of the Council setting up a Community

framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution, OJ L 332, 28.12.2000.

(2004/C 33 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0732/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Guinea-Bissau: human rights

Recently there has been a spate of reports that trade unionists, human rights activists, leaders of opposition
parties and those of various associations have been arrested in Guinea-Bissau. These reports come on top
of others of severe restrictions on freedom of expression (RTP-Africa delegation, local radio stations and
other media), and on other fundamental rights, making the gloomy overall picture of the economic,
financial, social and political situation prevailing in Guinea-Bissau even blacker. Now, to complete this
picture of general collapse, comes the news that the legislative elections originally scheduled for April will
probably be postponed, on the grounds that the requisite funding simply cannot be found.

How has the Commission monitored the on-going deterioration of the situation in Guinea-Bissau and what
measures has it taken, in particular with regard to protecting human rights and putting an end to political
persecution there? Does the Commission believe that the EU could provide funding for the electoral