(2004/C 33 E/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1572/03

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject:   Protection of forests in the Community from fire

The protection of forests from fires is a matter of particular importance and urgency for the Community in view of the substantial contribution they make to preserving and developing farming and the countryside, the survival of which depends in large measure on the presence and good condition of surrounding forest. This role is under threat from fires, which affect large areas of forest every year, particularly in the southern part of the Community.

Will the Commission therefore say what the European Community plans to do to support the volunteer fire-fighting organisations in the Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 2003)

The Commission has recognised that forests can be severely damaged by the effects of forest fires, which mainly affect the forests of Southern Europe. Although the main responsibility for co-ordination and implementation of any forest policy is at Member State level, the Union decided to help them in their efforts to fight against forest fires. A scheme to protect and monitor forests against fire was consequently established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 of 23 July 1992 (1).

The scheme aimed to reduce the number of forest fire outbreaks and the extent of areas burnt through forest protection plans prepared and implemented by Member States. The Regulation was revised several times and expired on 31 December 2002.

On 15 July 2002 the Commission submitted a proposal for a Parliament and Council Regulation concerning the monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community (‘Forest Focus’) (2). The purpose of this proposal is to establish a new Community scheme on the monitoring of forests and environmental interactions to protect Community forests against pollution and forest fires. It would last six years (from 2003 up to 2008) and incorporate new elements in order to assess forest ecosystem conditions in a broader context.

The proposal includes: actions related to the monitoring of forest fires and their impact on forests, studies on the effects of fires on the forest ecosystem, and integrated and demonstration projects that could assist in better preventing forest fires and protecting the ecosystem. The proposal does not include forest fire prevention measures, as these have already been incorporated for the majority of the regions of the Southern Member States in their Rural Development Plans, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 (3). The Community will thus continue its financial support to national forest protection policies through Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 and ‘Forest Focus’ that together will continue all the previous actions developed against forest fires.

On 4 March 2003 the Council reached a new political agreement on a common position for ‘Forest Focus’. The common position will be sent to the Parliament for a second reading in accordance with the co-decision procedure. The new agreement — still under debate — foresees also some special provisions for awareness-raising campaigns and special training for agents involved in fire prevention interventions when such measures are not yet included in the rural development programmes. A part of these funds could be used also to co-finance organisations of volunteers, although such activities still remain under the main responsibility of Member States and their local authorities.

(1)  OJ L 217, 31.7.1992.

(2)  OJ C 20 E, 28.1.2003.

(3)  OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.