Situation in Italy after the earthquakes
14.11.2016
Question for oral answer O-000139/2016
to the Commission
Rule 128
Ivan Jakovčić, Iskra Mihaylova, Matthijs van Miltenburg, Petras Auštrevičius, Norica Nicolai, Urmas Paet, on behalf of the ALDE Group
Remo Sernagiotto, Raffaele Fitto
On 24 August 2016 a devastating earthquake hit central Italy, while three other major quakes, within a flurry of tremors, struck central Italian regions, on 26 October with magnitudes 5.5 and 6.1, and on 30 October with magnitude 6.5 respectively. More than 400 people were reportedly injured and 290 people killed in the earthquakes, while a possible ‘domino effect’ may lead to 100 000 people being displaced.
The territories concerned suffer from a deformation that extends over an area of about 130 square kilometres, with a maximum displacement of at least 70 centimetres. As a result, the quakes have destroyed towns, seriously damaged local and regional infrastructure, destroyed items of historic and cultural heritage, and damaged economic activities, especially SMEs, agriculture and tourist and gastronomic resources.
In addition to this, the harsh weather conditions to be expected during the forthcoming winter season are a major concern for the many displaced persons. This problem needs to be addressed quickly and effectively in order to guarantee decent living conditions for the people deprived of their homes.
Given this context, the Commission is asked to answer the following questions:
– Has the Commission taken all the necessary measures to provide support and help to the Italian national and regional authorities involved in relief efforts following the disaster?
– Will the Commission look into the existing procedures for assessing applications for funding with a view to simplifying them and shortening the time required for approval and disbursement of financing from the Solidarity Fund?
– Will the Commission assess the feasibility of establishing an EIB framework loan mechanism that could be established for the purpose of providing Member States with funding before it is disbursed from the Solidarity Fund?