European Parliament
Ioannis Gklavakis (PPE-DE ).
(EL)
Mr President, over recent years we have witnessed a constant increase in the rate at which forests are destroyed by fires, especially in southern Europe.
In Greece, we have had serious fires: in Halkidiki, which is perhaps the most important and beautiful tourist spot in Greece, approximately 60 000 decares were burnt. This is a major blow to the environment, tourism and farming.
We need:
- firstly, compensation for the victims. Europe is the state, the organisation of solidarity and must act as such;
- secondly, we need direct protection from the risk so that the soil is not washed away;
- thirdly, we need prevention for the future. Here we must examine the matter in depth to see how we can plant species which do not burn as easily as pine trees;
- fourthly, we need to examine how we can stop ecological deterioration, because the greenhouse effect is the reason why fires are increasing. We have a duty to protect the environment and man.

