WRITTEN QUESTION E-2105/99 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. New methods for finding persons trapped inside the wreckage of buildings.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/53 (2000/C 225 E/052) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2105/99 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (22 November 1999) Subject: New methods for finding persons trapped inside the wreckage of buildings The recent earthquakes in Turkey, Greece and other countries around the world have drawn attention to the extremely serious issue of persons trapped inside the wreckage of buildings and the need for effective search and rescue methods. Up to now rescue teams have been using accounts and information given by survivors, sound detection (acoustic method) and micro-cameras (visual method), as well as trained dogs. According to experts, other methods of finding trapped persons could be developed and used, based on the detection of chemicals emitted by the human body in various situations, and especially in difficult circumstances such as being trapped in buildings which have collapsed. It appears that methods like these have been tested for military purposes. Would the Commission be willing to aid the development and use of similar methods for use by rescue teams dealing with earthquakes and trapped victims? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (24 January 2000) The Commission has in the past financed at least one pilot project to build an appliance which uses microwave radar to detect persons trapped in rubble. The Honourable Member is referred to the Commissionís Internet site at the following address: http://www. europa. eu. int/comm/environment/civil/ prote/cpactiv/cpact08e. htm, where further information on the project is available. Under the Community action programme in the field of civil protection, it falls to the national authorities to determine the content and scope of any pilot projects in this area with a view to incorporating the results into rescue team practice. On this basis, the Commission will be prepared to examine the funding of a project proposed in this area. Research and development related to novel technical solutions may be granted financial Community support within the fifth framework programme for RTD (1), provided that the rules of participation as well as the contents of the workplans of the thematic programmes are respected. (1) OJ L 26, 1. 2. 1999. (2000/C 225 E/053) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2123/99 by Gianfranco DellíAlba (TDI) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Objective 2 for the 2000-2006 period and the reasons for the rejection of Italyís proposals The Commission has declared the Italian governmentís proposals concerning the areas eligible for Objective 2 for the 2000-2006 period áinadmissibleí, has refused to examine their contents, and has asked the government to rewrite them all. This refusal is likely to delay considerably the allocation of funds to the regions and the subsequent implementation of structural policies, and also to jeopardise, perhaps to the benefit of other countries, the fundsí commitment and expenditure capacities