WRITTEN QUESTION E-1263/03 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Application of the European Union Solidarity Fund to the Prestige disaster in Galicia and the other regions affected.
Date: 2003-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, damage, financial aid, fund (EU), natural disaster, oil pollution, powers of the institutions (EU)

C 51 E/70

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

At its meeting in Brussels on 20/21 March 2003, the European Council also highlighted the importance of
tourism in its conclusions concerning measures required in order to make business more competitive and
foster entrepreneurship. In that connection the European Council pointed to the need for further efforts, at
EU and at national level, to improve the overall business environment for all sectors, including tourism
(start-ups and growth of small and medium-sized firms, reducing administrative and regulatory burdens,
etc.).

As regards steps to deal with the crisis and restore confidence in the sector, the Council would remind the
Honourable Member that it is for the Commission to propose any measures deemed necessary.

(2004/C 51 E/078)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1263/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(3 April 2003)

Subject: Application of the European Union Solidarity Fund to the ‘Prestige’ disaster in Galicia and the

other regions affected

Experts have calculated that the cost of repairing the various types of damage caused by the ‘Prestige’
disaster could amount to around EUR 5 billion. This figure also corresponds to the amount (cid:1) USD 5 billion
(cid:1) demanded by the US from the company Exxon Mobil, the owner of the Exxon Valdez, which was
responsible for the disaster in Alaska in 1989. The Regulation on the European Union Solidarity Fund for
disasters, particularly natural disasters, lays down that the fund is applicable where the damage caused
exceeds EUR 3 billion. The Copenhagen European Council applied the Fund without taking this into
account, but only for a sum of EUR 5 million.

Has the Council analysed the application of the Solidarity Fund in Galicia and the other regions affected,
taking account of the actual level of damage caused and the above reference calculation, which exceeds
EUR 3 billion? Has it received a corresponding proposal from the Commission?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

On 11 November 2002 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 establishing the European
Union Solidarity Fund.

This instrument is intended for regions concerned by major disasters, by providing financial assistance to
contribute to a rapid return to normal living conditions in the disaster-stricken regions. The assistance
should mainly be mobilised in case of natural disasters.

Article 4 of the Regulation lays down the procedure for applying for assistance from the Fund. This
procedure is conducted exclusively by the European Commission in consultation with the budgetary
is consequently not involved in the procedure for granting assistance to the
authority. The Council
applicant Member State, and the final decision is accordingly a matter for the Commission alone. In this
connection the Council would refer to the Commission communication entitled ‘Report to the European
Council on action to deal with the effects of the “Prestige” disaster’, which was sent to the Council on
10 March 2003 in accordance with the Presidency conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council.