WRITTEN QUESTION E-2196/03 by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Civil protection.
Date: 2003-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European Commission, NATO, civil defence, environmental risk prevention, operation of the Institutions

C 78 E/90

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0088)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2196/03

by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Civil protection

What civil protection resources and capabilities are available to the European Commission and how is the
Commission organised to handle these matters? What is the Commission’s budget for civil protection
activities for each year in the period 2000-2005? What steps are taken to ensure that the Commission
does not duplicate the activities of the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre at NATO HQ?
In the event of a crisis, what mechanisms exist to ensure that the Commission’s call for and mobilisation of
capabilities, and execution of civil protection procedures, are fully coordinated with those of NATO?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2003)

Following the Council Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom of 23 October 2001 establishing a Community
mechanism to facilitate reinforced co-operation in civil protection assistance interventions (1),
the
immediately
Commission has established a Response Centre which is accessible and able to react
24 hours a day. The Centre can be activated in case of a natural or man-made emergency, occurring inside
or outside the Union. If it receives a request for assistance, it takes up immediate contact with the 24-hour
contact points of the countries participating in the mechanism (Member States, European Economic Area
(EEA) and Accession Countries). Then, the Centre puts together the means available, offered on a voluntary
basis by the national competent authorities and facilitates their deployment.

The budget for Civil Protection activities for the year 2003 is EUR 6,5 million. This budget covers, on a co-
financing basis, different types of activities: training, exercises and exchange of experts for civil protection
personnel, workshops and projects aiming at better information of the public, awareness raising projects.

Out of this budget EUR 2 million have been earmarked by the Parliament for floods and earthquake
forecasting projects.

The Commission has developed regular contacts with all relevant bodies and international organisations
concerned with civil protection, including NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre
(EADRCC). It will be up to those Member States who have offered civil protection capabilities to one or
more co-ordination centres to decide how best their resources should be deployed in any given emergency
situation. Council Decision 1999/847/CE establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil
protection (2) is also worth mentioning in this context.

(1) OJ L 297, 15.11.2001.
(2) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.

(2004/C 78 E/0089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Cattle transport (cid:1) CATRA findings

The Commission announces in its communication IP/03/854 that the CATRA research project makes
recommendations on the transportation of cattle (over long distances).

According to the findings of
this study, animals experience the greatest stress during loading and
unloading. Also, cattle transport vehicles need better, more appropriate design. The study also calls for
improvements in the design of lairage facilities.