92003E0729

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0729/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Prestige: Solidarity Fund review

A Spanish newspaper (La Voz de Galicia' of 19 January 2003, p. 7) has claimed that in response to requests from the Spanish Government, Prodi undertook to consider reviewing the use of the Solidarity Fund in the case of the Prestige disaster, due to the problems detected in applying it efficiently on a scale commensurate with that of the disaster.

Can the Commission President confirm that the review of the Fund is being considered as a result of problems detected in applying it to the oil spill from the Prestige?

If so, what does this review of the use of the Solidarity Fund consist of? What might the problems detected be? Is the Commission going to submit a proposal amending the relevant Regulation?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

In its Communication Report to the European Council on action to deal with the effects of the Prestige disaster(1), the Commission states that it remains to be ascertained whether the Prestige disaster is eligible for aid under the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF)(2).

The Communication to the European Council concludes that aid of the volume required for the Prestige would necessitate an amendment to the legal basis of the fund, which the Commission is willing to propose to the Council. The amendment would adjust the mechanism in line with the Commission's initial proposal submitted in September 2002. It might include adjusting the Solidarity Fund to cover disasters of a technological or environmental nature, lowering the threshold for action (currently EUR 3 billion or 0,6 % of the gross national product (GNP) of the Member State concerned) and extending the eligible actions defined in Article 3 of the Regulation to include preventative action intended to minimise the damaging effects of an ongoing or imminent disaster.

(1) COM(2003) 105 final.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European UnionSolidarity Fund OJ L 311, 14.11.2002.