European Parliament
Papastamkos (PPE-DE ).
(EL)
Mr President, a meeting of the PPE-DE Group in the Committee of the Regions was held in Athens on 15 October at the initiative of the Mayor of Athens, Mrs Bakogiannis, on the subject of 'Cities' Safety and Security Policies'. The Greek Prime Minister, Mr Karamanlis, referred in his welcoming speech, among other things, to the need to further promote the civil protection of the European Union.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is the primary responsibility of us, the members of the European Parliament, the institution with democratic credentials
par excellence
, to impart material content to the Community action plan which expires in December 2004, because the institutional
acquis
to date is insignificant. My call to the honourable Members of this House is that we invigorate, that we promote the civil protection within the European Union.

