Doc. 10747

17 November 2005

Establishment of an European Institute for Early Warning, Management and Studies of Natural Calamities Crises

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Preda and others

1.       Considering the increasing occurrence, on our continent and in the world, of emergency situations due to floodings, droughts, earthquakes, fires, tornados, etc.,

2.       Acknowledging the obvious changes of the world climate and the need for a global approach of this issue and its consequences,

3.       Given the serious consequences of the natural calamities on the economy and health system of the affected states and of the neighbouring countries,

4.       Noting the preoccupations at the national and international levels regarding the possibility of being faced with aggressive pandemias (e.g; bird flu),

5.       Understanding and acknowledging that natural disasters require a coherent collective response, solidarity and huge financial resources that are overwhelming for the nations that have been hit,

6.       Taking into account the necessity to encourage the cohesion of a collective effort in the management of the crisis situations produced by natural disasters,

      The Parliamentary Assembly calls on the Council of Europe to:

1.       study, together with the relevant European Union institutions and structures the possibility to set up an European Institute for Early Warning, Management and Studies on Natural Calamities Crises, that should coordinate all the European institutions and organizations involved in the early warning, management and studies of natural disasters;

2.       evaluate, together with the national governments of the member states and the relevant European Union institutions and structures, the possibility to organize and finance an Integrated European Task Force for rapid specialized interventions in case of natural disasters;

3.       promote a constant dialogue and exchange of data and information with the authorities of the countries included in the European Neighbourhood Policy concept;

4.       encourage and support the co-operation and the exchange of data and information with the relevant national and international institutions active in this field, all around the world.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

PREDA, Cezar Florin, Romania, EPP/CD

COŞKUNOĞLU, Osman, Turkey, SOC

de MELO, Maria Manuela, Portugal, SOC

DUPRAZ, John, Switzerland, ALDE

ETHERINGTON, Bill, United Kingdom, SOC

FRIÐLEIFSDÓTTIR, Siv, Iceland, ALDE

GARCIA PASTOR, Eva, Andorra, ALDE

JAKAVONIS, Gediminas, Lithuania, ALDE

KLYMPUSH, Orest, Ukraine, ALDE

KRSTEVSKI, Zoran, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", ALDE

LENGAGNE, Guy, France, SOC

MIRONESCU, Laurentiu, Romania, EPP/CD

MIUTESCU, Gheorghe Adrian, Romania, ALDE

PAPADIMITRIOU, Elsa, Greece, EPP/CD

PRESEČNIK, Jakob, Slovenia, EPP/CD

STEENBLOCK, Rainder, Germany, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group