One alert notification related to a threat stemming from environmental origin: the volcanic ash cloud in Iceland.

The volcanic origin of the soils and all the pyroclastic material accumulated during the eruptions of the Somma-Vesuvio volcanic complex have made this land highly fertile.

1. Welcomes the Commission Communication on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters; recalls that natural and man-made disasters affect all Member States and candidate countries and include, among other hazards, floods, storms, droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, forest fires, extreme temperature events, volcanic eruptions, avalanches, landslides, technological and industrial accidents, soil erosion, contamination of the subsoil and groundwater and pollution of the seas, lakes and rivers;

3. Welcomes the commitment made by the Commission to ensuring that disaster-prevention-related issues are taken into account more coherently in EU policies and programmes, and stresses the need for a holistic approach to disaster prevention; recalls that all types of natural and man-made disasters must be taken into account and that these may include, among other hazards , floods, storms, droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, forest fires, extreme temperature events, volcanic eruptions, avalanches, landslides, technological and industrial accidents, soil erosion, contamination of the subsoil and groundwater and pollution of the seas, lakes a ...[+++]nd rivers;

3. Welcomes the commitment made by the Commission to ensuring that disaster-prevention-related issues are taken into account more coherently in EU policies and programmes, and stresses the need for a holistic approach to disaster prevention; recalls that all types of natural and man-made disasters must be taken into account and that these may include, among other hazards, floods, storms, droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, forest fires, extreme temperature events, volcanic eruptions, avalanches, landslides, technological and industrial accidents, soil erosion, contamination of the subsoil and groundwater and pollution of the seas, lakes an ...[+++]d rivers;

'geogenically contaminated soil' means a soil where there is a confirmed presence, caused by geogenic sources such as parent material and volcanic activity, of substances of such a level that Member States consider they may pose a significant risk to human health or the environment, taking the current and approved future use of the soil into account;