Several European teams and 7 eastern and western European cities, in particular, have combined their knowledge of the earthquake phenomenon and its effects on buildings and populations, with the aim of submitting the RISK-UE project to the European Commission in the context of the 5th PCRD: "An advanced approach to earthquake risk scenarios, with applications to different European towns". The duration of the project is 3 years (2001-2004). The main objective is to achieve a plausible assessment of the direct and indirect damages, following a scenario earthquake, and the consequences resulting from those damages in order to increase awareness within the 7 cities so that the ”Plans of Action” necessary to effectively reduce the risk of an earthquake can be carried out.