WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1038/98 by Nel van DIJK to the Commission. Economic espionage and State aid
22. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 402/63 (98/C 402/076) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1035/98 by Fernando FernÆndez Martín (PPE) to the Commission (6 April 1998) Subject: The effects of El Niæoí The El Niæoí phenomenon is having increasingly serious effects in various regions of the world › natural disasters such as floods and storms are followed by severe drought, causing fires and destroying crops and leaving people hungry, poor and destitute, often in regions which are already in themselves disadvantaged. In order to prevent worse disasters, has the Commission introduced any mechanism for predicting the effects of El Niæoí? Are there any programmes designed to mitigate these effects and provide emergency aid for the countries affected? Is the Commission working in collaboration with any international organization in this field? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (28 May 1998) Researchers have for many years recognized the important role of El Niæo (or Southern Oscillation phenomena (ENSO)) in the climate system and the Commission has supported important research on the phenomenon. Under the current Environment and climate programmeí (1994-1998), the Prediction of climate variations on seasonal timescalesí (Provost) project is investigating the prospects for seasonal and interannual climate predictions, and has pioneered a global atmosphere-ocean modelling system which shows great promise for future operational forecasts. This project also utilises satellite and other observations over the El Niæo region in the Pacific Ocean. The model predictions of last yearís El Niæo and its related climate anomalies are particularly encouraging. Part of the products from this (still experimental) project are now available on the Internet, including the predicted effects of El Niæo on different regions of the world (including Europe). Results from other research underline the link to the global climate system in a ápost-Kyotoí perspective, indicating that global warming may cause El Niæo and ENSO variability to increase. In September 1997 the Commission set up a working party to monitor developments in the El Niæo phenomenon and prepare preventive action. In addition to the emergency aid already allocated by the Commission to the affected countries in Central and Latin America and East Africa, totalling ECU 21 million to date, a special programme has been approved by the Commission to the tune of ECU 77 million, financed by the Community budget (áfood aid and securityí head). The Commission works in coordination with the agencies of the United Nations (including the World Food Programme), the International Federation of the Red Cross and various European non-governmental organisa- tions working in the countries affected by El Niæo. (98/C 402/077) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1038/98 by Nel van Dijk (V) to the Commission (6 April 1998) Subject: Economic espionage and State aid Can the Commission confirm that Title V of the EC Treaty (rules on competition, particularly Articles 92 to 94 concerning State aid) applies to the passing-on by governments to businesses of confidential information about their competitors or other governments which has been gathered by national intelligence or security services?