WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3362/97 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL to the Commission. Floods in Valencia, Murcia and Andalucia: aid to victims
C 134/148 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 The Commission will shortly present a communication to the Council and the Parliament on the future of the social dialogue. It is the result of a comprehensive consultation exercise, initiated through the 1996 communication mentioned by the Honourable Member. The Parliament has contributed greatly to that exercise by its in-depth analysis of the future of the social dialogue in its resolution of 18 July 1997, supporting the Commission in its call for a strengthened sectoral dialogue. In order to achieve this, the Commission intends to propose adaptations to the current structures of the sectoral dialogue. The social partners should be encouraged to work within flexible and adaptable structures which favour efficient political dialogue. (98/C 134/198) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3362/97 by Jose· Garc ·a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (22 October 1997) Subject: Floods in Valencia, Murcia and Andalucia: aid to victims The recent floods in the Spanish Mediterranean region in the last week of September have caused major personal and material damage. In the Valencian community, Murcia and Andalucia, material damage is estimated at PTA 20 000 million, according to preliminary provisional figures issued by the Union of Small Farmers. In view of the extent of the damage, and its far greater social impact, since it affects small farmers, does the Commission intend to provide aid, both for the victims and to repair the material damage? (98/C 134/199) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3366/97 by Jose· Garc ·a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission (22 October 1997) Subject: Floods in the EU: awareness-raising campaign The recent floods in the Spanish Mediterranean region in the last week of September have caused major personal and material damage. In the Valencian community, Murcia and Andalucia, material damage is estimated at PTA 20 000 million, according to preliminary provisional figures issued by the Union of Small Farmers. These natural disasters are not sporadic occurrences, but recur periodically, because of the geomorphological and climatic characteristics of the area, and they affect other Member States such as Italy and France. Furthermore, they have serious environmental consequences, since they accelerate the rate of soil erosion and deforestation, in areas already suffering from very advanced ecological deterioration. Is there any possibility that the Commission might carry out an awareness-raising campaign both for the general public and for social and economic operators, involving training programmes for experts, informing businesses of the correct steps to be taken, early-warning networks for the civilian population, systems for controlling and inspecting drainage capacities, etc. so as to forestall the consequences? Joint answer to Written Questions E-3362/97 and E-3366/97 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 November 1997) The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) can finance the restoration of agricultural and forestry production potential damaged by natural disasters and the introduction of appropriate prevention instruments (Article 5(h) of Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 (1)). In this context, measures to train experts and increase public awareness of prevention could be eligible, as could other work carried out with the same aim