92003E0212

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0212/03

by Christine De Veyrac (PPE-DE)and Hugues Martin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Prestige disaster and European civil protection

Have the Member States affected by the oil slick resulting from the Prestige accident made use of the European mechanism for coordinating civil protection assistance interventions?

Can the Commission give details of the aid mobilised to date, the time needed for this and the States that have provided aid?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2003)

Member States affected by the oil slick from the Prestige requested assistance via the EU Response Centre for civil protection(1) that was activated on the day of the accident (13 November 2002).

The EU Response Centre, following the request of the Spanish, the Portuguese and the French authorities, launched eight different requests for assistance of specialised vessels, aircraft, equipment and experts to deal with the response to the pollution. The first request was launched on 14 November 2002, the last on 9 January 2003. Following the accident, an impressive quantity of resources, including 15 oil-combating vessels, more than 20 kilometres (kms) of booms and a number of specialised surveillance aircraft, were put at the disposal of the competent national authorities.

The Response Centre of the Commission, in co-ordination with the Spanish authorities, also acquired satellite images of the area in the framework of the Charter Space & Major Disasters.

In co-ordination with the Spanish authorities, the Commission promptly set up a mission of observers from the majority of the Member States who visited Galicia from 24-27 November 2002. The Community's mission enabled 24 experts, appointed by the national governments, to acquire specific experience in dealing with this type of emergency.

The possibility of sending a Community task force, consisting of experts made available by the Member States, was offered to the Spanish authorities.

Moreover, the Commission has proposed the participation of European experts in the Scientific Committee established by the Spanish authorities in order to assess issues relating to the wreck of the Prestige.

An environmental impact assessment survey will probably be carried out, pending confirmation from the Spanish authorities. The Commission will contribute up to EUR 300 000 to such a survey.

The Commission adopted on 5th of March a report(2) concerning past, present and future actions undertaken at the Union level in order to remedy the consequences of the Prestige disaster and to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future. This report will be submitted to the European Council of 21 March.

(1) Council Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom of 23 October 2001 establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions OJ L 297, 15.11.2001.

(2) COM(2003) 105 final.