WRITTEN QUESTION E-0141/00 by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission. Technical and financial cooperation programme for damage relief following the natural disasters in Venezuela and coordination with the Member States.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/149 The Commission would like to draw the Honourable Memberís attention to the fact that each 4. Member State is solely responsible for determining the risks for which it is obligatory to take out insurance. The only exception to this rule is the case of car insurance, where European regulations make it obligatory to take out cover for civil liability, or áthird-party insuranceí, throughout the Community. It may be of interest to the Honourable Member to know that this insurance is covered by Council Directive 92/49/EEC of 18 June 1992 on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to direct insurance other than life assurance and amending Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC (third non-life insurance Directive) (3) (Class 12: civil liability (C. L. ), maritime, lake and river vehicles). This Directive introduced a single authorisation system, under which insurance companies have to apply to the authorities of their home Member State for authorisation. This allows insurance companies to operate throughout the Community, either under the right of establishment or the freedom to provide services. The sole purpose of introducing this system (Articles 4 and 5 of this Directive) is to guarantee increased competition in national markets so that consumers can choose the insurance product that best suits them and the insurer they prefer, independently of their Member State of origin. (1) Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three yearsí duration, OJ L 19, 4. 1. 1989. (2) Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC, OJ L 209, 24. 7. 1992. (3) OJ L 228, 11. 8. 1992. (2000/C 303 E/161) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0141/00 by Isidoro SÆnchez García (ELDR) to the Commission (31 January 2000) Subject: Technical and financial cooperation programme for damage relief following the natural disasters in Venezuela and coordination with the Member States In view of the situation in the Venezuelan states of Vargas and Miranda following the catastrophic torrential rains, floods and avalanches of mid-December 1999, which have claimed tens of thousands of victims as well as damaging the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands and causing material losses to the value of several hundred million euro in damage to housing, infrastructures, equipment and systems in general, does the Commission, in addition to continuing with the emergency humanitarian aid already intend to institute a technical and financial granted (which is being channelled through ECHO), cooperation programme with a view to alleviating the damage caused, thus enabling the Venezuelan states hit by the natural disasters to reconstruct, to be backed up by coordination with the Member States in development cooperation with Venezuela? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (21 February 2000) The Commission is currently preparing an expert mission to carry out an evaluation of the situation in Venezuela and to identify possible specific actions. Depending on the findings of this expert mission, it will decide on a medium-term plan for the reconstruction of Venezuela. At this stage, the Commission cannot provide the Honourable Member with the exact amount intended for this action, as it will depend entirely on the findings of the expert mission and on discussions with other donors. The Commission will closely co-operate with other donors in order to encourage a co-ordinated international effort and a clear definition of the priorities for action