Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92001E0198

**WRITTEN QUESTION P-0198/01 by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Mine detection and clearing.** 
  
*Official Journal 187 E , 03/07/2001 P. 0200 - 0201*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0198/01

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: Mine detection and clearing

In view of the urgent need to develop systems for clearing minefields in former war zones, what funds is the Commission making available to assist with developing:

(a) methods for reliably detecting concealed mines,

(b) methods for reliably clearing minefields by destroying them without injury to personnel?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2001)

Based on a systematic assessment of the state of knowledge on the detection and identification of landmines, the Commission concluded that improved tools for humanitarian demining are urgently needed in order to make the whole process safer, faster and more cost-effective.

With the significant help of the Parliament, the Commission succeeded in obtaining through a Council decision in 1997, an increase of 15 million for Research and technological development (RTD) specific support to mine detecting technologies. A number of projects were launched and the results will soon be made public.

The current (5th) framework programme, FP5, provides for specific RTD support to actions against landmines. In 1999, seven new projects were started for a total volume of 13 million. They aim at the enhancement of existing tools in order to improve significantly and at affordable costs the speed, safety and efficiency of humanitarian de-mining, specifically for mine field survey and detection and clearance of individual landmines.

The need to ensure the evaluation of the safety and the performance of tools for mine clearance, the Commission together with the United States, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom have founded last year an International Test and Evaluation Program (ITEP). The ITEP Secretariat is hosted by the Commission in its centre in Ispra, Italy. Since it implementation ITEP supported tests of metal detectors in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Eastern Europe, and executed a consumer report of all existing metal detectors. At the time being it facilitates the establishment of a network of test and evaluation capabilities in South Eastern Europe. The main focus will be to improve the safety of mine clearance in the region.

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