Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-07-11-Speech-3-446"
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"en.20070711.36.3-446"2
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"Madam President, this year the Commission has activated the Community Civil Protection Mechanism twice, at the request of Greece and Cyprus, to help fight fires – especially forest fires. Through this mechanism, the Member States and other participating states in Europe have the opportunity to express their solidarity by offering civil protection assistance. The Commission coordinates and facilitates the assistance which is made available.
Recent developments have given a positive impetus to the further development of the Commission’s role in the field of civil protection. The political agreement reached by the Council in June on the recast of the Community Civil Protection Mechanism reinforces the Commission’s legal mandate to engage in the coordination of operational activities. The recast will allow the Commission to reinforce the guidance function of the mechanism. The civil protection financial instrument, adopted in March 2007, gives a more central role to the Commission, notably as regards facilitating Member States’ access to transport services and the financing of transport of assistance.
Member States or candidate countries may also request support from the EU Solidarity Fund. The Commission has, so far, received three applications for financial assistance this year. These applications relate to flooding on the Spanish Canary Island of El Hierro, to the major storm Kyrill in Germany and to the tropical cyclone Gamede in the French Overseas Department of La Réunion.
In Greece, extremely hot and dry weather conditions combined with strong winds led to a disastrous upsurge of forest fires and wild fires. By 28 June, there were over 120 fires in the country. Greece called upon the Community Civil Protection Mechanism to supply additional fire-fighting, water-bombing aircraft and helicopters that can also be used in the fight against forest fires. Five Member States offered assistance. Offers for a total of seven Canadair aircraft – from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain – were accepted. Within two hours, two Canadair sent by Italy were on their way. Fortunately, by Monday 2 July the forest fires were under control and the aircraft returned to the countries of origin. On Saturday 30 June, Cyprus requested assistance in controlling the disastrous forest fires in the Trudos Mountains. Italy proposed sending two Canadair. Fortunately, local conditions rapidly improved and, as the assistance was no longer necessary, the aircraft that were already on their way could return to their base.
Up to now, neither of the two countries has made contact with the Commission with regard to the Solidarity Fund application. In these two cases, and whenever Member States face disastrous events, the Commission services stand ready to activate immediately the Civil Protection Mechanism and to provide assistance and guidance, should the affected countries consider applying for such funding."@en1
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