91998E3151

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3151/98

by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission

(19 October 1998)

Subject: Comprehensive strategy for combating forest fires in the Mediterranean as part of Community civil defence policy

Given the views recently expressed in Parliament's resolution on the implementation of a Community forest policy which takes account of the specific nature of Mediterranean forests and establishes permanent cooperation between the Member States airborne fire-fighting forces, will the Commission say whether it is contemplating drawing up a comprehensive strategy for combating forest fires, particularly in southern Europe, as part of civil defence policy?

Such a strategy would bring about considerable savings on the purchase of the necessary fire-fighting equipment and would promote coordinated action, exchange of experience, technical know-how and information between the Member States, resulting in more effective fire-fighting and a reduction in the scale of the damage caused.

Will the Commission take the initiative to develop such a comprehensive strategy, bearing in mind that climate change is likely to increase the risk of fires in the Mediterranean?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 1998)

For several years the Commission has been supporting the Member States in the fight against forest fires. In the southerly Member States, in particular, self-training workshops have been held which enable experience to the exchanged and, since 1996, there has been a system enabling experts to be exchanged; Moreover, a system enabling information on risk levels to be exchanged between Member States every summer has been set up with Commission support.

The Commission was able to further the expansion of mutual aid between Member States in the event of forest fires when, in 1994, it was possible, thanks to its support, to finalise an administrative agreement on the common use of airborne fire-fighting equipment between Italy and France.

As part of the Community's current action programme on civil defence the Commission is prepared to provide additional support and to back-up any action enabling that mutual cooperation among the Member States to be improved in order to boost its effectiveness and reduce the impact of those disasters.