B3-1438, 1441, 1442, 1447 and 1453/93

Resolution on the storms in northern Italy

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the recent storms that have affected Genoa and other regions in northern Italy (Piedmont, Val d'Aosta, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Lombardy, Liguria and Tuscany),

A.whereas the autumn storms must be viewed as a constant factor, since they recur regularly every year,

B.whereas bridges, roads, aqueducts, railway lines, buildings and factories have been destroyed and large stretches of fertile agricultural land devastated,

C.whereas, on this occasion too, a justified request was made for the declaration of a state of emergency,

D.having regard to the need and urgent nature of preventive measures for this region which because of their specific configuration, need to be provided with efficient hydrological consolidation in the area,

1.Expresses its sympathy to the families of the victims;

2.Expresses its solidarity with the people once more hard hit by this natural disaster;

3.Calls on the Community authorities to cooperate with the Italian Government to assess the damage and the availability of the requisite aid and calls on the Commission, in view of the European dimension to the disaster, to take immediate steps, as it has in the past for such exceptional cases, with a view to the reconstruction of infrastructure and subsequent consolidation work, especially on the major European communications routes in the area;

4.Calls for an efficient prevention plan endowed with adequate financial instruments to be drawn up and implemented as a matter of extreme urgency;

5.Calls on the Commission in particular to make immediately available to those most affected emergency aid from Article B4-340 of the Community budget and to consider ways and means of using the Structural Funds from which the regions benefit for reconstruction, clearing up and prevention;

6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Italian Government and the regions of Liguria, Piedmont, Val d'Aosta, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Lombardy and Tuscany.