B4-1145/95

Resolution on fires in Greece, Italy and Portugal

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the large number of fires which caused extensive damage in several parts of Greece in late July and during the month of August - including the areas of north-eastern Attica, Rethimnon in Crete, Aiyion in the Peloponnese and Psakhna in Evvoia - and destroyed thousands of hectares of woodland and farmland,

-having regard to the particularly fierce fire which devastated the villages of Argalasti, Xinovrisi and Siki in the Pilion area on 29 August 1995, totally destroying thousands of hectares of arable land and olive groves, which are the only source of income of local inhabitants and which had already been damaged in the past by frost and fires,

-having regard to the large number of fires which have caused extensive damage in Italy, particularly in Liguria, Sicily and Sardinia,

-having regard to the large number of fires which caused extensive damage in Portugal during the summer,

1.Expresses its deep sorrow at these events and wishes to convey its sympathy to those affected;

2.Calls on the Commission to cooperate with the various governments and local authorities with a view to formulating a consistent fire prevention policy;

3.Calls on the authorities of the EU Member States in which such fires are most common to institute thorough forest maintenance programmes during the pre-summer months so as to reduce the likelihood of fires occurring in the first place;

4.Calls on the Commission to cooperate with the various governments and local authorities in assessing the damage and taking the necessary preliminary measures with a view to compensation;

5.Asks the Commission to grant financial aid to local inhabitants in the countries most affected;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Governments of Portugal, Greece and Italy and the local authorities in the areas affected.