Question for written answer E-007395/2016 to the Commission Rule 130 Lampros Fountoulis (NI) Subject: State of emergency in affected areas in the Peloponnese and Thessaloniki A state of emergency was declared in the municipalities of Kalamata, Messini, Oichalia, Trifylia and Mani, as well as in the municipality of Thermaikos, Thessaloniki, following extreme weather conditions in the area1. The results were devastating: closed roads on the Messinia and Laconia road network, overflow of seasonal rivers, flooding in homes and shops, traffic chaos, immobilised cars swept away by the waters, blackouts and, above all, loss of life and people missing. After the meeting of the Alternate Minister for Citizen Protection, Mr N. Toskas, with the Minister for Infrastructure, Mr Spirtzis, and the Deputy Minister for the Economy, Mr Alexis Charitsis, it was decided that the requisite infrastructure assistance should be provided immediately, the damage should be recorded in order to compensate farmers, and the affected areas should be delineated with a view to providing immediate compensation to flood victims. I therefore ask the Commission: 1. How can Greece immediately use money from the structural funds for protection and to prevent similar natural disasters? 2. Will procedures be simplified to save valuable time? 3. When will the resources of the EU Solidarity Fund for the implementation of advance payments be activated, given that Greece is a country in an extremely difficult economic position with a limited public investment programme? 1 http://www.kathimerini.gr/873733/gallery/epikairothta/ellada/tesseris-nekroi-apo-thn-kakokairia---se- katastash-ektakths-anagkhs-oi-plhgeises-perioxes 1105793.EN PE 590.079 .