B4-0389/94

Resolution on landslides on the crag of Arcos de la Frontera

The European Parliament,

A.whereas the central area and the crag of Arcos de la Frontera were together declared a historical monument on 15 May 1962,

B.whereas the Arcos crag is adjacent to national monuments such as Saint Mary's Parish Church and other buildings of historical interest, including Saint Peter's Church and the Castle,

C.whereas the recent rains and seepage of water have caused vast landslides, involving large masses of earth and rocks which have been swept away from the Arcos crag, threatening its future stability and jeopardizing monuments of inestimable value,

D.having regard to the costly investments which will be needed to shore up the Arcos crag, which cannot be carried out on the basis of municipal budgets alone,

E.having regard to the urgent need to safeguard this remarkable natural site and the architectural heritage of the town centre,

1.Expresses its concern at the situation caused by the recent landslides on the Arcos crag;

2.Stresses that the felicitous combination of natural features and monuments found in Arcos de la Frontera merits maximum efforts to ensure its conservation;

3.Urges the authorities at local, Autonomous Community and national level to embark without delay on the tasks involved in shoring up the Arcos crag;

4.Calls on the Commission to grant financial assistance to ensure the preservation of this piece of the Community's historic and artistic heritage;

5.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Spanish state, the Government of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia and the Municipality of Arcos.