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The President of the European Parliament
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Press Release : 06-01-2000

Natural disasters - Nicole Fontaine: the EP has not suppressed any funding and supports comprehensive action by the EU.
 
'The European Parliament has not suppressed any budget headings which would have authorised emergency aid for the storm victims in France', said its President, Mrs Nicole Fontaine, stressing that the suggestions made in recent media reports did not correspond to the reality.

Mrs Fontaine continued: 'I do not want to get involved in a sterile controversy at a time when what people in France, Austria and Germany need is the widest possible mobilisation to deal with the dramatic consequences of these events. I do, however, have to stress that it was the Commission that, in 1998, did not propose the reinclusion of the heading in question. By contrast, in 1996 Parliament took the view that the sum of EUR 2.5 m entered under that heading was totally inadequate to the enormous needs arising from natural disasters, arguing that a substantial level of funding should be earmarked for that heading, to be drawn on if required, and that there should be closer coordination of the various aid instruments'.

The President of the European Parliament recalled that in the wake of the floods of 12 and 13 November 1999 in south-eastern France 'Parliament called on the Commission and Council to release an exceptional Community aid as a contribution to the rehabilitation of the areas affected'.

Mrs Fontaine said that the budget headings adopted on 16 December 2000 could be 'mobilised' in a very short period of time, to combat the oil slick and the storms.

On the subject of the oil slick, she said: 'The European Parliament has entered EUR 2 m under a heading entitled Marine pollution and environmental emergencies'. This means that if we act fast the EU can effectively fight the oil slick from the '"Erika"'.

On the storms, the President of Parliament will write to Mr Romano Prodi calling on the Commission, in the context of the Structural Funds, to make maximum use of the budget headings as substantially increased by Parliament at the second reading of the budget. She said: 'I believe that part of the appropriations for rural development, agri-environmental measures, forestry and afforestation can be used to aid the affected regions'.

Mrs Fontaine also stressed that Parliament, for its part, has always favoured resolute action by the EU against flags of convenience and in favour of strict application of the 'polluter pays' principle, as well as supporting higher maritime safety standards, including compulsory use of double-hulled vessels.

 
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