Brussels, 03/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - Further to the explosion at the AZF factory in Toulouse, the European Parliament adopted, on Wednesday, a resolution inviting the Union to draw up the lessons to be learnt from this disaster. Adopted by 541 votes in favour, 1 vote against and 17 abstentions, the resolution takes on board the main suggestions made during the debate with Commissioner Margot Wallström (see EUROPE of 3 October, p.10), mainly the amendment to the Community legislation to keep chemical plants at a distance from residential areas, the reestablishment of the emergency budgetary line for allowing Union financial aid to go to persons injured in such a disaster, and recasting of the Member State town and country planning policies in the vicinity of high risk sites.
European Parliament plenary Session