92000E2530(01)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2530/00

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Subject: Fires in southern Europe

Will the Commission release emergency appropriations to cover the damage caused by the widespread fires which have raged across southern Europe and Greece, in particular, in recent days, in view of the need for exceptional funding to compensate those affected by the disaster and to restore the natural environment?

Supplementary answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The Commission is very concerned about the forest fires that affected Greece this summer and the personal tragedies involved.

The Community has no emergency financial aid mechanism to help southern Member States such as Greece cope with the damage caused by this wave of fires.

Member States can however, provided that all relevant rules, decisions and agreements are respected, use Community funds to repair damage to public infrastructure and purchase firefighting equipment.

On restoration of the natural environment, a number of operational programmes approved or in negotiation include aid under the sixth indent of Article 30(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and amending and repealing certain Regulations(1) that will help make good the needs identified.

Under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 of 23 July 1992 on protection of the Community's forests against fire(2) the Commission on 17 July 2000 to spend 3 750 000 (Community contribution 1 675 000) on forest protection in Greece. This includes creation of tracks, firebreaks and water points, preventive forestry measures and launching of monitoring action.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 217, 31.7.1992.