B4-0981 and 1030/95

Resolution on damage caused by storms in various Spanish regions

The European Parliament,

A.having regard to the serious damage caused by severe storms in certain parts of Spain, where farmers have suffered major losses and rural communities have been seriously affected,

B.whereas such problems are recurrent and increasingly frequent in the Mediterranean area,

C.whereas the damage caused goes beyond short-term economic damage and contributes to erosion and desertification in areas which are highly sensitive owing to adverse structural circumstances for rural communities,

1.Calls on the Commission to grant urgent aid to the affected areas and to seek relevant information from the respective regional governments so that it can carry out an accurate assessment of the damage and of the action to be taken;

2.Calls on the Spanish Government and the regional governments to restructure investment projects within the EU's Structural Funds for the benefit of the affected areas;

3.Calls for special importance to be given, within projects financed by the Cohesion Fund, to infrastructure work designed to prevent natural disasters and to protect rural communities which are periodically affected by severe storms;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.