WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3765/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI , Gastone PARIGI , Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Plight of earthquake victims
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/21 (98/C 223/21) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3765/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI), Gastone Parigi (NI) and Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (21 November 1997) Subject: Plight of earthquake victims Following the tragic succession of earthquakes in central Italy, the Union has promised to provide funds, although the amount earmarked is insufficient. Will the Commission therefore say when the money can be used? Who is to blame for the delays in building prefabricated houses for the earthquake victims still living in the open air and hence for the failure to respect the human rights so constantly invoked by the Community? Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (15 January 1998) The Commission renews its expression of sympathy for the victims of the earthquakes which devastated central Italy in the autumn of 1997. The Commission is aware of the extent of the damage suffered by European citizens in these regions and the huge financial losses occasioned by the earthquakes. The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that in the 1997 budget there is no appropriation under the heading (B4-3400) for emergency aid for disaster victims in the Community enabling solidarity measures to be implemented. As matters stand, this form of action, which brings aid rapidly to the most seriously affected victims, will disappear from the budget in 1998. The Commission has confirmed to the Italian authorities that it is ready to launch the necessary procedures in the partnership framework to include specific reconstruction measures in the single programming documents under Objective 5(b) for these regions. (98/C 223/22) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3783/97 by Carlos Pimenta (PPE) to the Commission (26 November 1997) Subject: EU funding of humane trap testing In accordance with Annex I, Part IV of the proposed Agreement on international humane trapping standards between the European Community. Canada and the Russian Federation (97/C 207/11) (1), the European Community agrees to undertake a specific research programme to á. improve scientific knowledge in the field of evaluation of the welfare of trapped animals. í. The proposed scientific EC research programme relates to Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) and is to be undertaken within a three year time-frame. Can the Commission indicate the budget line from which this research is to be funded: confirm that any such research will conform strictly with the requirements of Directive 86/609/EEC (2), indicate the likely start date for this research; and explain the exact nature of the research to be undertaken and the number of animals to be used? (1) OJ C 207, 8. 7. 1997, p. 14. (2) OJ L 358, 18. 12. 1986, p. 1