MEPs call for more forest fire prevention (Maj)
(BRUSSELS2) MEPs from southern Europe have seized the Cypriot presidency on the reasons for the forest fires this summer. In particular, they protest against the abandonment of specific funding for the prevention of fire risks at European level. As a result, according to the “Forest” group of the European Parliament: the management and upkeep of forest areas in Europe have deteriorated sharply. A lack of specific funding that has made Spain suffer "particularly devastating fires (...) more than 150.000 hectares affected from January 1 to August 28, i.e. 0,55% of the country's forest area". And he regrets the same situation in Portugal (84.000 hectares), France (more than 1.900 hectares) and Greece where “the island of Chios suffered inestimable losses». Gaston Franco, UMP member and chairman of the “Forest” parliamentary group therefore asks that the future European civil protection mechanism as well as the future regulation on rural development give more importance to preventive measures. In other words, MEPs are calling for more EU money to be allocated to maintaining forests in southern Europe. Better safe than cure, they say somehow.
The problem is that the countries of northern Europe do not want to finance for the countries of the south, explains Gaston Franco. Even if "The south deserves all the consideration of Europe". "And even if "It's not just about forest fires"but any disaster, natural or technological, which can strike one of the member countries. In this context, the "Forest" group no longer really counts on the slightest agreement at the level of the 27. The hope now is to manage to sign a reinforced cooperation, and for that, they need a minimum of 9 signatories. "We therefore hope that with the arrival (July 1, 2013) of Croatia in the European Union" such an agreement could be reached with the countries of the South, admits Mr. Franco. Especially since the seriousness of the environmental situation is expected to increase in the years to come.
A budget line existed a few years ago. SummerIt had proven its effectiveness"protests Mr. Franco. But it was the European Parliament which, at the time, considered that prevention was not the competence of the EU, but that of the Member States."It was not an extraordinary budget line. It was a handful of millions of euros, but it allowed an interesting leverage effect"continues Mr. Franco. The MEP insists."New funding for a prevention mechanism would in no way replace the provision of States, but would simply lend a helping hand".
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