MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on forest fires in the summer of 2009

14.9.2009

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Corinne Lepage, Chris Davies on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0039/2009

B7‑0041/2009

European Parliament resolution on forest fires in the summer of 2009

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its resolution of 19 June 2008 on stepping up the Union's disaster response capacity;

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on natural and man-made disasters both within and outside the European Union, which called on the Commission and the Member States to work towards closer cooperation on civil protection measures in the event of natural disasters with a view to preventing and minimising their devastating impact, in particular by making available additional civil protection resources,

–   having regard to Council Decision 2007/162/EC, Euratom of 5 March 2007 establishing a Civil Protection Financial Instrument,

–  having regard to Council Decision 2007/779/EC, Euratom of 8 November 2007 establishing a Community Civil Protection Mechanism (recast),

–   having regard to the pilot project to step up cooperation between Member States on combating forest fires (budget line 07 04 04),

–   having regard to the preparatory action on an EU rapid response capability (budget line 07 04 05),

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, with increasingly hot and dry summer seasons in Europe, forest fires and other wildfires are a recurrent phenomenon, but still vary dramatically from year to year in intensity and in geographical location,

B.  whereas today's disasters are often of a cross-border nature and require multilateral and coordinated responses,

C. whereas the Community Civil Protection Mechanism is the unique Community instrument enabling solidarity in the immediate response to forest fires and major disasters in general hitting Member States,

D. whereas several times forest fires affected simultaneously several Member States and in such circumstances the Member States were not always in a position to help other Member States calling for assistance to fight major fires, making it necessary to step up the response at EU-level,

E.  whereas the EU Forest Fire Tactical Reserve (EUFFTR) established under the pilot project to step up cooperation between Member States on combating forest fires made a key contribution to helping affected Member States fight major forest fires,

 

1.  Expresses strong solidarity with the relatives of those who lost their lives and with residents in the affected areas;

2.  Notes that in recent years, the frequency and severity of natural and man-made disasters have increased;

3.  Stresses that many of these forest fires seem to have been started by criminal acts of arson; hence calls on the Member States to strengthen penal sanctions for acts that damage the environment such as those causing forest fires;

4.  Points out that there is a growing gap between existing EU capacities and the need to guarantee EU solidarity by supplementing national capacities to assist in fighting the most difficult situations;

5.  Emphasises the key contribution of the Community Civil Protection Mechanism in supporting and facilitating the mobilisation and coordination of civil protection assistance during emergencies;

6.  Emphasises that the EU Forest Fire Tactical Reserve (EUFFTR) established under the pilot project to step up cooperation between Member States on combating forest fires is an example of European added value that filled the capacities gap in an effective and cost-efficient manner;

7.  Deplores the fact that the Commission and the Council did not plan any financial engagements for 2010 to continue the preparatory action on an EU rapid response capability already established in 2008 and 2009;

8.  Calls on the Commission to report urgently on the pilot project to step up cooperation between Member States on combating forest fires and the preparatory action on an EU rapid response capability, and calls for legislative proposals to be presented establishing a genuine Community disaster response capability covering forest fires and other types of disasters;

9.  Stresses that the Union's approach should cover the full disaster cycle from prevention to recovery, and all types of natural disasters, including extreme droughts, forest fires, floods, and storms;

10. Urges the Member States to improve their prevention capabilities;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the parliaments of the Member States.