CELEX: 51991PC0431(02)
Language: en
Date: 1991-11-06
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) on protection of the Community' s forests against fire

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                            C0MC91) 431 final
                                            Brussels, 6 November 1991
-1
                               Proposal for a
                          COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
         amending Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 on the protection of
           the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution
                               Proposal for a
                         COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
                   on protection of the Community's forests
                                  against fire
                       (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---                                       1
                            ECTLANAflOBy MarreAurqM
I.       Intrcductlon
         In Hay 1989 the Oouncdl adopted an Initial forestry action
        programme with four priorities:
                 protection of forests from air pollution and fires
                 support for the afforestation of farmland
                 the development and exploitation of forests in oertain
                 rural areas
                 creation of the Standing Forestry Committee.
        These four main priorities were aooompanied by measures such as
        improvement of the processing and marketing of forest-products and
        the introduction of EF1CS, the European Forestry Information and
        Oommunjcation System.
        The Commission is currently preparing a revision of this set of
        measures with a view to ensuring that a coherent forestry action
        programme is presented in the light of the expérience gained from
        their application within a regional and rural development context
        and in close connection with the reform of the common agricultural
        policy.
        However, the expiry at the end of 1991 of the two Regulations on
        the protection of forests from atmospheric pollution? and from
        fire* makes it necessary to bring forward the presentation of the
        draft proposals for the renewal and revision of these two measures
        in order to avoid interrupting their continuity. This will not
        prejudice the overall view and coherence of the forestry action
        programme and, in addition, is Justified in that the measures are
        not Hnfracl to the reform of the GAP.
   Regulation (EBC) No 3528/86 of  17 November 1986, OJ L 326, p. 2, as
   amended by Regulation (EBC) No  1613/89 of 29 Hay 1989, OJ L 165, p. 8.
   Regulation (EBC) No 3529/86 of  17 November 1986, OJ L 326, p. 5, as
   amended by Regulation (EBC) No  1614/89 of 29 May 1989, OJ L No 165,
   p. 10.
 ---pagebreak---                               - 2 -
H. Proposals
1. Forest Protection Against Atmospheric Pollution
   Regulation (EBC) No 3528/86 on the protection of the Community's
   forests against atmospheric pollution produced the following
   results:
           establishment of a Community observation network for
           monitoring forest health;
           the drawing up of two reports on the health of forests - a
           third is under preparation;
           Implementation of projects aimed at a better understanding
           of the forest die-back phenomenon.
   Work is in progress on establishing an intensive forest monitoring
   network in close collaboration with the Concerted International
   Programme on Assessing and Monitoring the Effects of Airborne
   Pollution on Forests.
   Proposal
   The Commission proposes to renew the Regulation for five years in
   its current form and link the European network of tree observation
   plots to a more Intensive forest monitoring network. The new
   measure should not only Improve knowledge of the complex forest
   ecosystem/pollutants Interaction but also help to Implement
   political undertakings made by European and Community countries at
   the Pan-European Ministerial Conference on Forest Health held in
   Strasbourg on 18/19 December 1990.
2. Forest Protection Against Fire
   Forest destruction by fire, particularly in the Community's
   Mediterranean regions, is one of the major ecological and économie
   problems in the regions concerned. Each year fires rage through
   more than 500 000 hectares of forest in southern Europe.
   Up to now the Community has financed fire prevention measures via
   the following:
 ---pagebreak---                             -3-
- EAGGF:
   *     Regulation (EBC) No 269/79 establishing a common measure
         for forestry in oertain Mediterranean zones of the
         Community, renewed in a broader framework by the Integrated
         Mediterranean Programmes (IMPs)
  *      In the framework of specific measures applicable In oertain
         areas of Italy, France and Spain [Regulations (EBC) No
         1400/86, No 1401/86, No 1118/88]
  *      to a oertain degree, under the framework of regional and
         rural development in Objective 1 and 5(b) areas.
- non-EAGGF:
        under Regulation (EBC) No 3529/86 on protection of the
         Community's forests against fire, as amended by Regulation
         (EBC) NO 1614/89.
The expiry of the IMPs and Reg. 3529/86 risks creating large gaps
since the rural development basis alone cannot adequately deal with
the major problem of fires which, moreover, are not restricted to
Objective 1 and 5(b) areas.
If the forest ecosystems and their environmental, economic and
social functions are to be safeguarded it is essential that
Reg. 3529/86 be renewed.
One major fires In the past two years that have destroyed a large
part of the forest Investments financed under the EAGGF
(Reg. 269/79, IMPs) dearly demonstrated the large gaps in action
and policies on forest fire protection, particularly as far as the
cohérence between the various measures Is concerned.
Proposal
On the basis of numerous discussions on the problems of protecting
forests from fire held by the Standing Forestry Committee and
consultations with various non-governmental organizations (OCPF,
OOPA, etc.) and regional experts, the Commission proposes to renew
Regulation (EBC) No 3529/86 for a period of 5 years with radical
amendments aimed at:
        oonoentratlng Community efforts primarily on high-risk fire
        zones;
 ---pagebreak---                             - 4 -
        encouraging Member States to develop coherent forest fire
        protection strategies comprising both the analysis and
        reduction of the causes of fire and prevention and
        monitoring within the framework of zonal plans; restricting
        Community finance to actions which clearly fall within such
        strategies;
        developing an Information system (databank) on forest fires
        which should Improve the effectiveness of protection
        systems and permit an analysis of causes.
It should be noted that, with the development of this system, the
Community and the Mariner States will be helping to Implement a
decentralized European databank which was the subject of political
undertakings made by the European and Community countries at the
Pan-European Ministerial Conference on Forest Health held in
Strasbourg on 18/19 December 1990.
 ---pagebreak---                                 -X
                             Proposal for a
                     COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No      /..
                               Of         1991
          amending Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 on the protection of
            the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
and in particular Articles 43 and 130s thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission* 1 ),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par Iiament* 2 ),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee^3^,
Whereas the Community's forests are continuing to deteriorate and steps
should therefore be taken to prolong and supplement the Community scheme
introduced by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86( 4 ), as last amended by
Regulation (EEC) No 1613/89<5>;
Whereas precise data should be collected on the extent and development of a
number of forest pollutants, together with detailed information on basic
ecological parameters, in order to be able better to pinpoint the cause-
and-effect relationships that lead to the deterioration of forests;
whereas a European network of permanent observation plots for monitoring
the forest ecosystem would be the appropriate instrument for this purpose,
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4) 0J No L 326, 21.11.1986, p. 2.
(5) 0J No L 165, 15. 6.1989, p. 8.
 ---pagebreak---                                  - G-
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
                                  Article 1
Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 is hereby amended as follows:
1. Article 2 is replaced by the following :
   "Article 2
   1. The aim of the scheme shall be to help the Member States to :
      - establish on the basis of common methods a periodic inventory of
        damage caused to forests, in particular by atmospheric pollution,
      - establish or extend, in a coordinated and harmonious way, the
        network of observation plots required to draw up that inventory,
      - conduct intensive, continuous surveillance of forestry ecosystems,
      - establish or extend, in a coordinated and harmonious way, a network
        of permanent observation plots required for such intensive,
        continuous surveillance.
   2. The Member States shall forward to the Commission the data gathered
      by the network of observation plots for the inventory and the network
      of observation plots for intensive surveillance.
   3. The detailed rules for the implementation of this Article and in
      particular those relating to the gathering, type, comparabiIity and
      transmission of the data collected shall be laid down in accordance
      with the procedure provided for in Article 7."
 ---pagebreak---                                      9-
2. Article 7 is replaced by the following :
   "Article 7
   1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed,
      matters shall be referred to the Standing Forestry Committee set up
      by Council Decision 89/367/EEC by its chairman, either on his own
       initiative or at the request of a Member State.
   2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a
      draft of the measures to be adopted.   The Committee shall deliver its
      opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay
      down according to the urgency of the matter.   The opinion shall be
      delivered by the majority provided for in Article 148(2) of the
      Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to
      adopt on a proposal from the Commission.   The votes of the
      representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be
      weighted in the manner set out in that Article.   The chairman shall
      not vote.
      The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately.
      However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of
      the Committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the
      Council forthwith.   In that event, the Commission may defer
      appIication of the measures which it has decided for a period of not
      more than one month from the date of such communication.
      The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different
      decision within the time limit referred to in the second sub
      paragraph."
 ---pagebreak--- 3. Article 11 is replaced by the following :
    "Article 11
    1. The duration of the scheme shall be 10 years as from 1 January 1987.
    2. The Community shall contribute towards the scheme up to the limit of
        the appropriations entered to that effect in the budget of the
       European Communities and in accordance with the terms of this
       Régulât ion.
    3. Before expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 1, this
       Regulation shall be reviewed by the Council, acting on a proposal
       from the Commission."
                                   Art icle 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in
a I I Member States.
Done at          ,     1991.
                                           For the CounciI
                                           The President
 ---pagebreak---                                             3
                                      FINANCIAL STATEMENT
                                           regarding:
Draft Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 on the protection of
the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution (1)
1       Budget head Infl:         Item               HUA:
         I I I B 2                515                Forests
         I I I B 8                255                Forests (support and maintenance
                                                     expenditure)
2.      Legal basis; Articles 43 and 130s
3.      Classification:    Non-compulsory expenditure
4.      Alms of the measure and description of the scheme; To collect and
        analyse data on the level and development of pollutants in forests and their
        effects on the forest ecosystem; in addition, to carry out pilot projects on
        forest restoration and the improvement of observation methods.
5.      Method of calculation:
5.1     Nature of expenditure: Heading III B2-515: Co-financing of national
        expenditure.
5.2 Share of Community financing:          5 0 % maximum (100% for support and maintenance
                                           schemes financed under heading III B 8-255)
5.3 Calculât ion:
                                  Community expenditure       Support and maintenance
                                                              expenditure (100% charged to
                                                              the Community; studies, expert
                                                              reports, publications, e t c . ) :
                                                              ECU 0.3 mi I I./Year
(CA in mi I I ion ECU/Year)
        inventory network, observation points        3.9
        pi lot projects
        (restoration, improvement of
        observation methods and of the
        understanding of the effects of
        pollutants on the forest ecosystem) 1.5
        evaluation and fol low-up                         0.6
TOTAL                                                ÊJK2)
6.      Financial Implications for operating appropriations:
6.1     Schedule of commitment and payment appropriations (ECU mi 11 ion)
                                  Heading 111 B2-515      Heading 11 I B8-255
        Financial year            £A                      P £ CA/PA
        1992 (4)                           4.0 (3)            p.m     0.2 (3)
        1993              6.0                        3.1  0.3
        1994              6.0                        5.2  0.3
        1995              6.0                        5.6  0.3
        1996              6.0                        5.6  0.3
        Subsequent financial
        years                                             8.5
        TOTAL                     28.0               28.0 1.4
6.2     Financing during the current financial year:
7.      Comments:
        CA - Committment appropriations / PA - Payment appropriations
( 1 ) - The purpose of the draft regulation is to extend by 5 years the measures
        provided for under Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 which expires on
        31 December 1991, and to strengthen and expand these.
 ---pagebreak---                              - Ao -
(2) For the 5 years during which the current arrangements under Regulation (EEC)
    No 3528/86have been applied, expenditure works out at a total of ECU 13.5
    million, that is ECU 2.7 million per year. The increase of ECU 3.3
    million/year is due firstly to intensified observation from existing
    observation points (it is also intended to collect data on soil condition);
    secondly, the increase in annual costs results from the setting up of
    additional permanent observation points for intensive monitoring of forest
    ecosystems.
(3) It is assumed that the scheme will not be fully operational until 1993;
    consequently the amounts for the first year of implementation are lower than
    the estimate under 5.3.
(4) Figures for 1992 correspond to the 1992 preliminary draft budget.
 ---pagebreak---                                   11
                                Proposal for a
                       COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No     /..
                                    Of
                    on protection of the Community's forests
                                   against fire
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in
particular Articles 43 and 130s thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,
Whereas forests play an essential role in maintaining basic equilibria,
particularly as regards the soil, water resources, climate, fauna and flora;
Whereas forests therefore contribute towards the safeguarding and development of
agriculture and the countryside, which may be greatly dependent on the presence
and good upkeep of the surrounding forests;
Whereas, especially in the southern parts of the Community, the role of forests
is under increasing threat from fire, which damages vast tracts of forested land
every year-,
Whereas the protection of forests against fire is an urgent and important issue
for the Community;  whereas the Community must make a greater contribution to
the efforts of Member States to improve such protection;
 ---pagebreak---                                       A 2, ..
Whereas, in order to reduce the number and extent of fire outbreaks and areas
burnt, the Community's contribution must be directed towards combating the
causes of fire and improving fire prevention and forest surveillance;
Whereas the Community's contribution must be concentrated primarily in the areas
which face a permanent or cyclical fire risk;     whereas the territory of the
Community must therefore be classified according to the degree of risk of forest
fire;   whereas the Community's contribution must vary with the said degree of
r isk ;
Whereas, especially in areas of high risk, the Community must contribute to the
implementation of integrated forest fire protection plans, comprising measures
to eliminate causes and to institute or improve systems of prevention and
moni tor ing;
Whereas the setting-up of a data bank covering the Member States and the
Community can constitute an important tool for improving the system of forest
f i re protect ion;
Whereas action to set up the combat against forest fires covers, inter alia.
putting into practice the Resolutions of 23 November 1990^1^ on Community
cooperation on civil protection and of 10 June 1991(2^on the improvement of
mutual technological assistance between the Member States in case of a natural
disaster-,    whereas, as part of that action the collection by the Commission in
conjunction with the Member States of information relating to the means to
combat fires would usefully supplement the data bank provided for in this
Régulât ion;
Whereas, in order to facilitate the implementation of the measures contemplated,
close cooperation must be established between the Member States and the
Commission;     whereas such cooperation may be achieved through the Standing
Forestry Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
(1) OJ No C 315, 14.12.1990, pp.1-2
(2) OJ No.
 ---pagebreak---                                     Art icle 1
1. In order to set up efforts to maintain and monitor forest ecosystems and to
   safeguard the productive potential of forests for the benefit of rural areas,
   a Community scheme for the protection of forests against fire, hereinafter
   called "scheme", is hereby instituted.
2. The purpose of the scheme is:
   - to reduce the number of forest fire outbreaks
   - to reduce the extent of areas burnt.
3.   The scheme shall comprise:
     (a)  measures to identify the causes of forest fires and the means of
          combating them, and in particular:
          -  studies to identify the causes of fires and the background thereto;
          -  studies to devise proposals for schemes to eliminate such causes
             and background;
          -  campaigns to inform and educate the public;
     (b)  measures to set up or improve systems of prevention, with particular
          emphasis on the launching of protective infrastructures such as forest
          paths, tracks, water supply points, firebreaks, cleared and felled
          areas, and on the launching of operations to maintain firebreaks,
          cleared and felled areas, within the framework of a global strategy
          for the protection of forested land against fire;
     (c)  measures to set up or improve monitoring systems, with particular
          emphasis on the installation of fixed or mobile monitoring facilities
          and the purchase of communications equipment;
 ---pagebreak---                                      -,4 M .
      (d)  accompanying measures, including:
           -   training of highly specialized personnel;
           -   analytical studies and pilot or demonstration projects to try out
              new methods, techniques and technologies likely to enhance the
              effectiveness of the scheme.
                                      Article 2
1. Member States shall classify their territory according to the degree of
   forest-fire risk.    An area classified by degree of risk must normally
   correspond to an administrative area at least equivalent to NUTS level III.
2. Only areas where the permanent or cyclical risk of forest fire presents a
   serious threat to the ecological balance and the safety of persons and goods
   or constitutes a factor which is hastening the process of depopulation of
   rural areas may be classified as areas of high risk.
   Only areas in the regions of Corsica, Languedoc-Roussi I Ion, Provence-Alpes-
   Côte d'Azur and the departments of Ardèche and Drôme in France, the
   Mezzogiorno, Lazio, Tuscany, Liguria, Umbria, Marche, EmiIia-Romagna, the
   provinces of Cuneo and Alessandria in Piedmont and the province of Pavia in
   Lombardy in Italy, in Greece, Portugal and Spain may be classified as areas
   of h igh r isk.
3. Areas where the forest-fire risk is not permanent or cyclical but presents a
   significant threat to forest ecosystems may be classified as areas of medium
   r isk .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 1S~
4. The other areas of the Community shall be classified as areas of low risk.
5. Member States shall send to the Commission the lists of areas classified by
   degree of risk not later than six months after the entry into force of this
   Régulât ion.
   The Commission shall decide to approve the lists in accordance with the
   procedure laid down in Article 9.
                                    Art icle 3
1. Member States shall forward to the Commission forest-fire protection plans
   for the areas classified as high risk and medium risk.
2. For areas of high risk the plans shall comprise:
   - a description of the present situation in the area or subarea as regards
     the system of prevention and monitoring and the available means of fire
     control, together with the methods and techniques used to protect forests
     against fire;
   - an account of the fires occurring in the five preceding years and a
     description of the principal causes   identified;
   - an indication of the objectives to be attained by the end of the plan's
     durât ion as regards:
     *   elimination or reduction of principal causes
     *   improvement of systems of prevention and monitoring
     *   improvement of control systems;
   - a description of the measures contemplated for achieving the objectives;
 ---pagebreak---                                   -4e
   - particulars of the partners associated with the protection of forests
     against fire and the procedures for coordinating their participation.
3. For areas of medium risk the plans shall comprise:
   - a description of the present situation in the area or subarea as regards
     the system of prevention and monitoring and the methods and techniques used
     to protect forests against fire-,
   - an indication of the objectives to be attained by the end of the plan's
     duration as regards the elimination or reduction of the principal causes
     and the improvement of systems of prevention and monitoring;
   - a description of the measures contemplated for achieving the objectives;
   - particulars of the partners associated with the protection of forests
     against fire and the procedures for coordinating their participation.
4. After consulting the Standing Forestry Committee the Commission shall deliver
   an opinion on the forest-fire protection plans within three months of their
   forward ing.
5. From 1 January 1993, Community financing of forestry measures in areas
   classified as high risk or medium risk shall be subject to the adoption of
   forest-fire protection plans and the implementation of measures in accordance
   with such plans.
 ---pagebreak---                                     Art icle 4
1. Before 1 November each year, Member States shall submit to the Commission
   their projects or programmes for improving the protection of forests against
   f ire.
2. Projects and programmes may concern:
   - for high-risk areas, measures as specified in Article 1(3)(a), (b), (c) and
     (d);
   - for medium-risk areas, measures as specified in Article 1(3)(b) and (d),
     and campaigns to inform and educate the public.
3. After 1 November 1992, only projects and programmes covered by plans as
   referred to in Article 3 which have received a favourable opinion from the
   Commission may be submitted.
   After 1 November 1992 priority shall be given to programmes.
4. Detailed rules for applying paragraph 1 shall be adopted in accordance with
   the procedure laid down in Article 9.
                                    Art icle 5
1. The Commission shall ensure the coordination and monitoring of the forest-
   fire protection scheme covered by this Regulation.  In particular, it may
   seek the assistance of research institutes and scientific and technical
   advisers.
 ---pagebreak---                                    -1 g-
2. Coordination and monitoring shall also cover assistance to help Member States
   set up a system of information on forest fires with the following aims:
   - encouragement of exchanges of information on forest fires;
   - ongoing evaluation of the impact of measures undertaken by Member States
      and the Commission to protect forests against fire;
   - evaluation of the periods, degree and causes of risk;
   - development of strategies for the protection of forests against fire, with
      particular emphasis on the elimination or reduction of causes.
3. Detailed rules for the application of paragraph 2 shall be adopted in
   accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 9.
   They shall cover, in particular, the type, comparability and collection of
   data and the procedures for access to the data gathered.
4. Member States may confine the collection of data to areas classed as high
   r isk and medium r isk.
5. in preparation for the setting-up of information systems, the Commission may
   finance pilot projects to explore the feasibility of the various objectives
   of the system.   Projects shall be set up in consultation with the competent
   authorities of the Member States.
 ---pagebreak---                                      13 _
                                     Art icle 6
1. The Commission shall decide on the Community's financial-contr ibut i-on .to the
   projects and programmes submitted by the Member States and defined in
   Article 4.   The granting of Community financial aid shall be decided after
   the Standing Forestry Committee, set up by Council Decision 89/367/EEC, has
   been consulted.
2. The Community's financial contribution towards the measures referred to in
   Article 1(3) (a) to (d) shall be:
   - not more than 50% of the expenditure approved by the Commission in high-
     r isk areas ;
   - not more than 30% of the expenditure approved by the Commission in medium-
     r isk areas;
3. Expenditure on coordination as referred to in Article 5(1) shall be borne by
   the Community.   However, the Community's financial contribution towards the
   expenditure of the Member States on setting up the information system
   referred to in Article 5 (2) shall be :
   - not more than 50% for operations in respect of high-risk areas;
   - not more than 30% for operations in respect of medium-risk areas-,
   - not more than 15% for operations in respect of other areas.
                                     Art icle 7
Member States shall designate the departments and agencies authorized to
implement measures taken pursuant to this Regulation and the departments and
agencies to which the Commission departments are to reimburse the sums
corresponding to the Community's contribution.
 ---pagebreak---                                      Article 8
Member States shall take the necessary measures, in accordance with national
laws, regulations and administrative provisions, in order to:
-  ascertain the effective and regular nature of the operations financed by the
   Community;
-  prevent irregularities;
-   recover sums lost as a result of irregularities or negligence.
Member states shall make available to the Commission all the necessary
information and shall take all appropriate steps to facilitate any checks the
Commission may deem fit to make in connection with the management of Community
funding, including on-site verifications.    Member States shall inform the
Commission of the measures taken to this end.
                                     Art icle 9
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed, the matter
   shall be referred by its chairman to the Standing Forestry Committee set up
   by Council Decision 89/367/EEC, either on his own initiative or. at the
   request of the representative of a Member State.
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of
   the measures to be taken . The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the
   draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the
   urgency of the matter.   The opinion shall be delivered by the   majority laid
   down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the
   Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission.    The votes of
   the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be
   weighted in the manner set out in that Article.    The chairman shall not vote.
 ---pagebreak---                                       2.1
   The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately.   However,
    if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee,
   they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith,   in
   that event, the Commission may defer application of the measures which it has
   decided for a period of not more than one month from the date of such
   communicat ion.
   The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision
   within the time limit referred to in subparagraph 2.
                                    Article 10
1. The scheme is scheduled to run for five years from 1 January 1992.
2. The Community shall contribute to the scheme within the limits of the
   appropriations entered for the purpose in the budget of the European
   Communities and in accordance with this Regulation.
3. Before expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 1, this Regulation sha
   be reviewed by the Council on a proposal by the Commission and on the basis
   of a progress report relating to the sector covered.
                                    Article 11
Council Regulation (EEC) No 3529/86 of 17 November 1986 on protection of the
Community's forests against fire shall remain applicable to projects or
programmes submitted before 31 December 1991.
 ---pagebreak---                                 - 2~ 2 -
                                   A r t i c l e 12
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all
Member States.
Done at ... ,                                      For the Council
                                                   The President
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 2 -h -
                                  FINANCIAL STATEMENT
                                       regarding:
Draft Council Regulation on protection of the Community's forests against fire (1)
1.    Budget heading: III B2-515 forests
                       III B8-255 forests (support and maintenance expenditure)
2.    Legal basis: Articles 43 and 130s
3.    Classification: Non-compulsory expenditure
4.    Objectives of the measure and description of the scheme: To reduce in number
      and size the outbreaks of fire and the areas burnt down by combatting the
      causes of fire and by introducing fire prevention and forest surveillance
      measures.
5.    Method of calculation:
5.1   Nature of the expenditure:       Heading III B2-515: co-financing of national
                                       expenditure
5.2   Share of Community financing:
           For the protection and surveillance measures, etc. (Article 1(3)), 30% or
           50% maximum according to the degree of risk of fire in the region
           concerned;
           for the measures relating to the setting up of the information system
           (Article 5(2)), 15%, 30% or 50% maximum according to the degree of risk
           of fire in the region concerned;
           for the support and maintenance schemes financed under heading III B-255
           (minibudget), 100%.
5.3 Calculât ion:
      Heading IiI B2-515:
      (CA per year in ECU million)
      dealing with the causes                3.0
      prevention                           11.0
      survei Nance                      &&
Total                                  20.0 (2)
Heading III B8-255 (mini budget - 100% charged to the Community: studies, expert
reports, publications, etc.): ECU 0.8 mi 11 ion/year.
 ---pagebreak---                                    2M
6.    Financial Implications for operating appropriations;
6.1   Schedule of commitment and payment appropriations (ECU mi 11 ion) CA/PA
1
                      Heading III B2-515           Heading III B8-255
      Financial year CA               £A                      ÇA/PA
      1992 (4)                11.4 (3)     0.1                          0.6 (3)
      1993    20.0             9.1                 0.8
      1994    20.0            16.8                 0.8
      1995    20.0            18.6                 0.8
      1996    20.0            19.8                 0.8
Subsequent financial
years                                 27.0
TOTAL                 91.4            91.4                    3.8
6.2   Financing during the current financial year:
7.    Comments:
      CA - commitment appropriations/PA - payment appropriations
(1)   The purpose of this draft is to revise in depth and extend for 5 years the
      term of validity of Regulations (EEC) Nos 3529/86 and 1614/89 on protection of
      the Community's forests against fire, which expire at the end of 1991.
(2)   For the 5 years during which the current arrangements under Regulation (EEC)
      No 3529/86 have been applied, expenditure works out at ECU 43.0 million, that
      is ECU 8.6 million/year. The increase of ECU 11.4 million/year is due to the
      fact that the forest fire prevention measures will be applied over a larger
      geographical area and results from an extension of the measures financed
      (dealing with the causes of fires).
(3)   It is assumed that the scheme will not be fully operational until 1993;
      consequently the amounts for the first year of implementation are lower than
      the estimate under point 5.3.
(4)   The figures for 1992 correspond to the 1992 preliminary draft budget.
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                         -2 s ._
                                                                     ISSN 0254-1475
                                                              COM(91) 431 final
                                                      DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                         14 03
                                 Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-475-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-76860-6
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