MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the major natural disasters in the Madeira Autonomous Region and the effects of the storm in Xynthis in Europe
4.3.2010
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Ilda Figueiredo, João Ferreira, Miguel Portas, Marisa Matias, Rui Tavares, Patrick Le Hyaric, Jacky Hénin, Marie-Christine Vergiat on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0139/2010
B7‑0164/2010
European Parliament resolution on the major natural disasters in the Madeira Autonomous Region and the effects of the storm in Xynthis in Europe
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 349 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to the Commission's proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Union solidarity fund (COM(2005)0108),
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. having regard to the disasters which devastated the Madeira Autonomous Region (Portugal and France) as a result of bad weather, with dozens of people killed and injured,
B. whereas the disaster also affected Spain, Belgium and Germany, causing considerable loss of life and material damage,
C. having regard to the thousands of inhabitants of the affected regions who still find themselves in a precarious situation, the enormous damage to roads and transport and harbour infrastructure, the destruction of many homes and the heavy social and economic consequences for those affected,
D. whereas these disasters damaged countless agricultural and aquacultural holdings, harbours, ships, commercial property and many homes, resulting in extremely serious prejudice to those affected,
E. whereas a great many homes remain without electricity and basic water supplies,
F. whereas prevention constitutes an ever-more important stage in disaster-management and its social importance is steadily growing,
G. having regard to the specific nature of the ultraperipheral and island regions, the permanent natural constraints on which mean that they do not enjoy the same degree of protection and capacity for rebuilding as other, mainland areas, for which support from neighbouring regions is rapidly forthcoming,
1. Voices its solidarity with the people of the Madeira Autonomous Region, France, Spain, Belgium and Germany, and particularly with the families of those killed;
2. Pays tribute to the search and rescue teams which worked with absolute commitment round-the-clock to save lives and limit human losses, and to the unremitting efforts of those working to restore essential services and infrastructures;
3. Stresses that the natural characteristics of and constraints on thinly populated regions and of ultra-peripheral and island regions need to be acknowledged and taken into due account;
4. Asks that all possible means of providing urgent Community support to the regions affected be exploited, whether via the European Union Solidarity Fund, ensuring that it is rapidly mobilised and endowed with the maximum possible funding, or by means of other support instruments which could help make good and minimise the massive material damage caused by the disasters and their heavy impact on strategic infrastructures and essential equipment, jeopardising the operationality of essential public services;
5. Proposes that the Member States affected be allowed to submit changes to their respective operational programmes, so that they can respond adequately to the new circumstances, and minimise the impact of these disasters on their populations; calls for exceptional support measures, with Community funding being advanced without any need for matching national funding, and/or a greater rate of Community co-funding being made available;
6. Draws attention to the importance of restoring both the production potential of the regions affected and jobs, ensuring the restoration of essential services such as water, electricity, sewerage and telecommunications, the building/repairing of housing, and the adoption of the measures needed to guarantee the incomes of the families affected;
7. Deems it important that when restoring or rebuilding damaged infrastructures and equipment, every effort be made to correct situations conducive to future risks, namely by increasing the through-flow capacity of bridges and water pipelines; renaturalising river beds; restoring and protecting river basins, wetlands and related eco-systems; and protecting/defending the coastline;
8. Stresses the importance of proper planning, respectful of the environment and human safety, so as to prevent any repetition of a disaster of this kind;
9. Stresses the need to set up an appropriate financial framework for disaster prevention by strengthening and fine-tuning instruments such as the solidarity fund, cohesion policy, rural development policy, regional policy and the Seventh Framework Programme; asks that prevention be taken into account in the post-2013 financial perspective;
10. Highlights the need for the Solidarity Fund Regulation to be revised, by adapting the eligibility criteria to the characteristics of each region and each disaster, paying particular attention to production sectors and to the most vulnerable areas, and making it possible to mobilise the Fund more flexibly and timeously;
11. Stresses the need for more support to be given to installing research and development centres in the ultra-peripheral regions, capable of watching out for, predicting and anticipating the appearance and development of extreme phenomena (climatic, seismic, etc.);
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to Council and Commission, the Governments of the Member States and the Government of the Madeira Autonomous Region.