BAKGRUNN (fra kommisjonsmeddelelsen, engelsk utgave)

Between 1990 and 2007 the European Union witnessed a marked increase in the number and severity of both natural and man-made disasters, with a particularly significant increase in the former. The loss of human life, the destruction of economic and social infrastructure and the degradation of already fragile ecosystems is expected to worsen as climate change increases the frequency and magnitude of extreme meteorological events, such as heat waves, storms and heavy rains [1].

Analyses carried out by the UN and other international organisations have highlighted a growing vulnerability to disasters, partly as a consequence of increasingly intensive land use, industrial development, urban expansion and infrastructure construction [2].

The Community has already developed a set of instruments to address various aspects of disaster preparedness, response and recovery. There are also a number of sector-specific initiatives covering floods [3], technological disasters[4], and oil spills [5] which deal with elements of disaster prevention. There is, however, no strategic approach, at the Community level, for disaster prevention.

The objective of this Communication is to identify measures which could be included in a Community strategy for the prevention of natural and man-made disasters, building upon and linking existing measures. Prevention is understood as (i) where possible preventing disasters from happening, and (ii) where they are unavoidable taking steps to minimise their impacts. This Communication follows up on the commitment made by the Commission to develop proposals on disaster prevention [6] and responds to the calls of the European Parliament [7] and the Council [8] for increased action at Community level to prevent disasters and mitigate their impacts. It contributes to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 [9] and is part of a package comprising an external and internal dimension [1]0. It does not cover conflict-related complex emergencies or acts of terrorism.

1 reported in the CRED (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters) database
2 ISDR, Global Trends Report, 2007
3 Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks
4 Council Directive 96/82/EC on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances, the Seveso Directive
5 For example, Regulation 1726/2002 banning single-hull takers from European ports and Regulation
2038/2006 on multi-annual funding for the action of the European Maritime Safety Agency in the field of response to pollution caused by ships
6 COM(2008)130
7 European Parliament Resolution of 19 June 2008 on stepping up the Union’s disaster response capacity European Parliament Resolution of 14 November 2007 on the regional impact of earthquakes
8 Council Conclusions of 16 June 2008
9 Adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction
10 EU Strategy for supporting disaster risk reduction in developing countries (COM(2009)xx).