JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
18 January 2000
by the following Members:
Grossetête, Florenz, Keppelhoff-Wiechert and Martin, on behalf of the PPE Group
Savary, Roth-Behrend, Gebhardt, Patrie, on behalf of the PSE Group
Lannoye, Isler Beguin, Auroi, Onesta, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Ainardi, Fiebiger, González Alvarez, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
Souchet and Pasqua, on behalf of the UEN Group
Mathieu, on behalf of the EDD Group
replacing the motions by the following groups:
- -UEN (B5-0029/00)
- -GUE/NGL (B5-0031/00)
- -EDD (B5-0040/00)
- -PPE-DE (B5-0042/00)
- -PSE (B5-051/00)
- -Verts/ALE (B5-0058/00)
The European Parliament,
A. having regard to the exceptional weather conditions and the unusually violent storms which swept across various parts of Europe, crossing the southern United Kingdom, France, Germany and Austria between 24 and 27 December 1999, and which also affected Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Ireland,
B. whereas the conditions caused the deaths of more than 90 people,
C. having regard to the particularly difficult situation which affected thousands of homes which were without electricity, telephones and heating, were cut off from roads and basic infrastructure and had no access to public services,
D. having regard to the destruction of homes and of certain production facilities and equipment, the damage caused to the agricultural, forestry and oyster-farming sectors, and to SMEs, the job losses and the economic and social consequences thereof,
E. having regard to the indelible impact on our architectural heritage, forests, countryside, protected areas and fauna and flora,
F. whereas the extent of the damage to the electricity grid is in large measure due to policies which favour conveying electricity over long distances by means of high-voltage lines,
G. having regard to the unparalleled scale of the disaster, the European solidarity and the massive financial resources to be deployed to rehabilitate the devastated areas and to restore people's normal living conditions; having regard to the emergency measures needed to prevent the risk of plant disease and water pollution and the risk of fire associated with storage,
H. whereas a substantial proportion of the affected areas is eligible for support from the Community Structural Funds, and in particular the ERDF, the EAGGF-Guarantee Section and the FIFG,
I. whereas it is to be feared that, as a result of emerging climate change, natural disasters on this scale are likely to re-occur,
1. Expresses its sympathy to and heartfelt solidarity with the families of those killed and those who have suffered damage;
2. Calls on the Commission and on those Member States not affected by the bad weather to plan practical measures to demonstrate Community solidarity, as soon as possible, by mobilising professional and technical resources under the five-year plan establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection which was adopted by the Council on 9 December 1999 (Decision 1999/847/EC):
3. Calls on the Commission to put together emergency funding to help the victims of this natural disaster, and to supplement the financial mechanisms set up by national and local authorities, in the context of the possibilities provided by the economic and social cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy, in particular by means of a major mobilisation of the resources allocated to rural development in accordance with the provisions of Article 33 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/99 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations, which lay down measures for cases of natural disaster;
4. Calls on the Member States, once the Commission has adopted the schedule of areas eligible under Objective 2, to draw up their development and conversion plans as speedily as possible, so that there is no delay in the process of awarding Structural Fund resources to the affected regions;
5. Calls on the Commission to apply Article 87(2) of the Treaty with a view to granting appropriate financial aid to all the sectors affected;
6. Calls on the Commission to give special consideration to the damage caused to French, German and Austrian forests, in particular by envisaging a significant redeployment of the resources allocated to rural development, in accordance with the provisions of Article 30 of the abovementioned Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/99 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations, which lay down measures for cases of natural disaster in the forestry sector, and by envisaging the specific mobilisation of professional and technical resources in the European forestry sector, so as to provide swift and substantial support for the requisite logging and clearing operations, in the context of the abovementioned five-year plan adopted by the Council on 9 December 1999 (Decision 1999/847/EC);
7. Calls for the policy of reafforestation to respect local species, the diversity of ecosystems and the quality of rural landscapes, and to diversify outlets for the forest-based industries;
8. Calls on the Commission to devote particular attention to projects designed to restore a high-quality environment in sensitive areas which will be submitted to it under the LIFE programme;
9. Calls on the Commission to take all the requisite steps to ensure that those affected are informed promptly about the European assistance available and that such assistance is granted speedily; calls on the Commission to submit practical proposals to the European Parliament and the Council if it finds that the funding available for such assistance is inadequate;
10. Expects the Commission and the European Union to implement measures linked to an overall strategy of combating the greenhouse effect;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the parliaments of the Member States.