21 Amendments of Sari ESSAYAH related to 2013/2174(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the situation in the EU insurance market is heterogeneous because Member States are exposed to different risks and natural catastrophes and the predictability of a natural catastrophe depends on different factors (meteorological, geographhydrological, geophysical, etc.);
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas storm surges, forest fires, river floods and flash floods are among the main natural catastrophe risks faced by Europe and, even if their incidence is increasing rapidly, it is still impossible to estimate their increasing effects in terms of damages and costs;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas citizens are often not aware of the various risks potentially arising from weather events, or else both as individuals and communities tend to underestimate the risks of natural catastrophes as well as the consequences of lack of preparation;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas on the one hand natural catastrophes depend on meteorological and geographical elements, geophysical and hydrological elements, which may be affected by climate change, while on the other man-made disasters are due to incorrect behaviour or bad risk management;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the market in natural catastrophe insurance is affected by the extent of preventive measures in the form of adaptation to climate change (e.g. creation of flood defences or fast detection and reaction capacities against forest fires), while the market in man-made disaster insurance aims to meet liability requirements imposed by safety standards;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that prevention is the most important factor in terms of protecting people and avoiding losses caused by unexpected events; notes the role of the EU in developing a more responsible society which gives enough thought and resources to precautionary measures and creating a culture of prevention enhancing citizens' awareness of both natural and man-made risks;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that more research willmay yield a detailed framework of different situations with regard to understanding and preventing environmental risks and reducing uncertainty in this field; welcomes partnerships between insurance companies and research institutes aimed at pooling resources, skills and risk expertise in order to better prepare citizens tounderstand the issues involved and provide materials for information campaigns thus preparing citizens and their communities to better face risks related to natural catastrophes;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes the view that the EU can provide visible added value by supporting responsible individual behaviour, and welcomes the support of campaigns aimed at improving citizens' awareness of the risks of natural catastrophes and knowledge of geography and climate and by sharing best practices on risk prevention and mitigation amongst Member States and regionally;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that the involvement of local authorities and stakeholders in decisions concerning city planning and urban development could improve natural catastrophe management; believes that closer cooperation between public and private sectors could help Member States and local authorities to identify high-risk areas and, decide on measures for adaptation to changepreventive measures and prepare for coordinated action;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Invites the Member States to share best practices and experiences with a view to protecting citizens from unexpected events and developing a network for information exchange, to include management at cross-border leveland to agree on cross-border coordination and management;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out that in most Member States there is some form of insurance-based system for floods and other natural damages. The system can be supplemented with state fund's compensation of those assets which cannot be privately insured. State funds may also compensate insurance claims exceeding the maximum amounts or otherwise exceptionally heavy damage. In addition, a Member State may participate in the compensation for damages by providing reinsurance. These systems, however, differ in many respects, and it may not be prudent or necessary to unify them.
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Notes that Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund is the basis for Community action in cases of major disasters and the Regulation notes clearly that "Community action should not relieve third parties of their responsibility who, under the 'polluter-pays' principle, are liable in the first instance for the damage caused by them, or discourage preventive measures at both Member State and Community level."
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Encourages the Commission to guarantee easy access to scientific information, including through comparative statistics, and the Member States to publish clear and precise data to support decision- making by consumers, communities and companies when taking out natural catastrophe insurance; considers that the introduction of standard formats based on different classifications of events could be useful;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that natural catastrophes affect both private households and business activities, and encourages insurance companies to offer affordable coverage and to propose economic incentives to encourage citizens to take out insurance to protect their property in case of damage; invites insurance companies to devise incentives responding to insurance needs in terms of environmental liability, e.g. for enterprises in the gasmining, gas, chemical or the nuclear sector;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recognises the need for consumers to understand what type of coverage they have and how it would operate when risks materialise; points out that consumers need to be fully informed of all terms and conditions when buying insurance products and before signing a contract;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that in the end it is the state that pays for damagesor the regional authorities that carry a lot of the indirect or direct cost burden for damages, be the causes natural or man- made, and suggests that Member States and regional authorities should recognise the importance of prevention of risks and should make it a pillar of investment strategy, since it is more efficient to minimise the consequences of disasters instead of just providing cover and repairing damages afterwards;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the risk of moral hazard whenif citizens assume that their government iswill be using public resources from the national budget to cover their losses; is therefore critical of actions and measures which may discouraginge citizens or communities from taking measures to protect themselves; is of the opinion that citizens should carry their share of responsibility and compensations should not cover all damages;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that individual responsibility in this sector has to be maintained, and is aware of the efforts made by Member States to combine the promotion of individual responsibility with intervention by government, paying for everything in cases of absence of private initiative;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Concludes that there is no market distortion in this field to justify intervention at European level, and does not think that a one-size-fits-all solution iswould be feasible for this issue; recalls that tailor- made insurance products depend on many elements, such as type of risks, culture and the approach taken by Member Statestheir probable quantity and quality, culture of prevention, the state of preparedness and capacity for action and the approach taken by Member States and regional authorities concerning risk monitoring and preparation;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers that a flexible natural catastrophe insurance market allows insurance companies to adapt products to different conditions, and believes that a non- mandatory framework is the best way to develop products matching with natural risks in a given geographical area;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers that a flexible natural catastrophe insurance market allows companies to adapt products to different conditions, and believes that a non- mandatory framework is the besta way to develop products matching with natural risks in a given geographical area, but Member States may, based on their different cultures and situations, also consider burden sharing for example by making insurance against natural disasters an obligatory part of fire insurance, so that certain high risk areas would not be left uncovered;