WRITTEN QUESTION E-0850/03 by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Council. Disasters and the European civil protection force.
Date: 2003-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, civil defence, natural disaster, rapid reaction force, terrorism

C 51 E/52

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

Reply

(29 September 2003)

in which it pointed out that
The Council would refer to its reply to Written Question E-3104/02,
although, under Article 33 of the TEU, the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal
security remain an area for which Member States are responsible, combating terrorism is in the Union’s
common interest,
it cited the
principles on which, in accordance with Article 6(1) of the TEU, the Union is founded, and it reiterated its
support for the action taken by Member States to combat terrorism, in compliance with the rule of law.

it drew attention to the anti-terrorist legislation adopted by the Union,

(2004/C 51 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0845/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 March 2003)

Subject: EU development budget

Taking into account that the implementation procedure for the Budget 2003 has already started, and
taking into account that the budget for development aid has to remain within the limits of Chapter 4, how
will the Commission fulfil the request of the European Parliament voted in Plenary on 13 February 2003,
to increase the budget for reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries from
EUR 55,8 to EUR 73,95 million? (Budget line B7-6312).

From which budget line or from which fund will this money be taken?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2003)

framework for

The Parliament proposed an increase in the financial
the period 2003-2006 for
reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries from EUR 60 million (proposal by the
Commission) to EUR 73,95 million. This increase implies that an additional EUR 4 to 5 million will have
to be provided annually in the budget years 2004-2006. In its Annual Policy Strategy for 2004, which also
adapts the programming under the remaining period of the Financial Perspectives up to 2006, the
Commission decided to increase the allocation to the development policy area by more than
EUR 50 million over the period 2004-2006,
inter alia to cover the additional amount required for
reproductive health. This increase comes from a decrease of the margins under heading 4 for the
remaining years of the current Financial Perspectives.

(2004/C 51 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0850/03

by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Council

(18 March 2003)

Subject: Disasters and the ‘European civil protection force’

In view of past experience of disasters in Europe and the shortcomings and deficiencies affecting Galicia,
the Cantabrian coast, Portugal and France in connection with the oil slick caused by the sinking of the
‘Prestige’, and taking into account the fact that the Convention’s working group on defence, chaired by
Commissioner Michel Barnier, has proposed the creation of a European civil protection force to work both

26.2.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/53

in the context of protection against terrorism and in the civil sphere to tackle disasters, what action will
the Greek presidency take in this field? Will it actually promote the creation of this much-needed European
civil protection force? What tangible measures does it envisage in the immediate future and the medium
term?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council recalls that the subsidiarity principle is the basis of all EU civil protection measures and
policies, which primarily aim at complementing and strengthening Member States’ policies in this field.

It should be noted that the results of the discussion and reflection within the Convention are not binding
and that, in conformity with the Laeken Declaration, an IGC will be convened to decide on the necessary
Treaty amendments.

The Council would point out that, in the framework of the civil protection mechanism established by
Council Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom, the Member States have already identified civil protection
capabilities that may be made available on a case-by-case basis. These capabilities include intervention
teams and assessment and/or coordination teams that are trained jointly.

The Council can inform the Honourable Member that
the mechanism has already been activated
successfully in the context of the ‘Prestige’ disaster on 13 November 2002, the summer floods in Central
Europe and the rescue of speleologists in Greece.

In addition, on 20 December 2002, the Council and Commission adopted a joint programme to improve
cooperation in the European Union for preventing and limiting the consequences of chemical, radiological
or nuclear terrorist threats to health, the food chain, the environment, and vulnerable industries and
transport.
threats, preventive measures to reduce
vulnerabilities, a monitoring for a prompt detection of attacks and mutual assistance in the event of a
terrorist threat. The civil protection mechanism is central to the programme.

It provides for a common assessment of terrorist

Taking into account past experience of disasters
Greek Presidency included the following in its priorities in the field of civil protection:

in Europe and the recent

‘Prestige’ case,

the

(cid:1) the acceleration of procedures for establishing the mechanism (cid:1) operated by the Commission (cid:1) for
civil protection interventions, both inside and outside the EU, so that it can be fully operational;

(cid:1) the adoption of European measures and legislation on the prevention of disasters, an EC initiative

currently under discussion.

(2004/C 51 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0855/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Quality of economic projections

Further to the Commission’s answer to Written Question E-3315/02 (1) and Written Question E-0014/
03 (2), will the Commission please note that the question referred to the projections in each stability and
convergence programme for each Member State for real GDP growth, inflation and the budget balance,
together with the currently published outturns for each of those variables?