MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
11.4.2005
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Jan Mulder and Ignasi Guardans Cambó
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the drought in Portugal
B6‑0259/2005
European Parliament resolution on the drought in Portugal
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission report on Climate Change and the European Water Dimension,
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Southern Europe, particularly the Iberian peninsula, has suffered from many severe droughts in the last few years,
B. whereas rainfall in Portugal in 2004 was just 55 cm, as against the annual average of 93 cm, and the September to December period was the driest since 1990,
C. whereas the drought is particularly severe in the centre and south of the country,
D. whereas the water supply for up to ten per cent of the population - i.e. one million people - will be threatened if the dry spell continues,
E. whereas the impact on livestock and agriculture in general has been devastating,
F. whereas there is likely to be little or no rainfall in the May to October period, which will make it particularly difficult to feed animals both during the coming summer season and during the following winter,
G. whereas the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident across the globe,
H. whereas the March European Council agreed to a new benchmark for international efforts to combat climate change,
1. Is deeply concerned about the effects of the persistent drought in Southern Europe, particularly in the Iberian peninsula, on public water supply, as well as the devastating effect on agriculture;
2. Draws attention to the fact that a Portuguese village which was submerged 35 years ago as part of a dam project has re-emerged due to the drought, which is the worst in decades;
3. Is aware that the authorities in some regions have resorted to importing drinking water;
4. Draws attention to the fact that persistent periods of drought greatly increase the risk of devastating forest fires with all their obvious consequences;
5. Calls on the Commission to provide financial and/or food aid from intervention stocks to alleviate the situation in rural areas in particular;
6. Welcomes the recent European Council commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2010 compared to their 1990 levels on the one hand, and its commitment to keep the maximum increase in global temperatures to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels on the other;
7. Notes with interest the recent Commission report on the global phenomenon of climate change and its direct effect on water supply and quality and on ecosystems; welcomes in particular the proposal to provide relevant input to EU water policy-makers on the impacts on the water sector (agriculture, urban centres, industrial and energy sectors, civil protection, spatial planning) under climate change scenarios;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Governments of Portugal and Spain.