WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2819/98 by Gianni TAMINO to the Commission. EU-Japan cooperation in seismic engineering
C 142/42 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 5. 1999 (1999/C 142/050) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2819/98 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (17 September 1998) Subject: EU-Japan cooperation in seismic engineering The damage caused recently by earthquakes (Los Angeles, Kobe, Italy, etc. ) has underscored the global nature of the problem of protecting structures from earthquakes. During the visit made by Commissioner Edith Cresson shortly after the Kobe earthquake, the European Union and Japan decided to step up their collaboration in the area of seismic engineering. On that occasion, an agreement was reached on collaboration between the Japanese Construction Ministry’s ‘Building Research Institute’ and the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety of the European Union’s Joint Research Centre. Collaboration has continued for three years, and has involved the exchange of information, scientific findings and personnel. Now the need to perform large-scale experiments for the harmonisation of design rules has been recognised. In view of the damage caused recently by earthquakes, the need to tackle the problem of earthquakes by means of worldwide cooperation, the success of the current EU-Japan cooperation, and the fifth framework programme for research, which points out the strategic importance for the European Union of encouraging cooperation with third countries in the field of research and fostering inventions in order to bolster the EU’s international role, can the Commission say whether there are any specific budget lines relating to the implementation of the fifth framework programme for research that ensure that cooperation will continue satisfactorily, or at any rate, how it intends to ensure that EU-Japan cooperation in this area continues? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1998) The problem of the protection of structures from earthquakes is recognised as very important by the Commission, which has funded substantial research within the 4th Research and development (R&D) framework programme. It is foreseen to continue this support for the next framework programme through the generic activities on natural risks of the specific programme related to the environment. Moreover, as indicated by the Honourable Member, an efficient cooperation with Japan exists presently in this field. Until now, general scientific and technological cooperation with Japan is financed with the B67211 budget line (international cooperation in the 4th framework programme). The same possibilities will exist in the 5th framework programme with the B66211 budget line. (1999/C 142/051) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2835/98 by Niall Andrews (UPE) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Sellafield Is the Commission aware of the recent leakage into the Irish Sea from the Sellafield Nuclear Reprocessing Plant and has it made enquiries of the British Government on the matter? If so, what was the response from the British Government?