# CE2004078EN.01020701.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/207 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/207

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(2004/C 78 E/0211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2984/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 October 2003)

Subject:   Building on seafronts

Subject:

| 1. | Can the Commission state whether there is any EU legislation that prohibits or affects building on seafronts or beaches? |
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1.

Can the Commission state whether there is any EU legislation that prohibits or affects building on seafronts or beaches?

| 2. | Can the Commission confirm or indicate whether it has any intention to introduce such a proposal? |
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2.

Can the Commission confirm or indicate whether it has any intention to introduce such a proposal?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2003)

(10 November 2003)

| 1. | There is no Community legislation that prohibits building on seafronts or beaches. However prior to development consent, a construction project may be subject to an environmental impact assessment in application of Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1) (‘EIA Directive’). Annexes I and II of this Directive list projects that are likely to occur in the coastal zone, such as port facilities, coastal defence works, marinas and more in general urban and tourism development projects (Annex I.8; Annex II.10 (b) (e) (k) and 12 (b), (c)). |
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1.

There is no Community legislation that prohibits building on seafronts or beaches. However prior to development consent, a construction project may be subject to an environmental impact assessment in application of Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1) (‘EIA Directive’). Annexes I and II of this Directive list projects that are likely to occur in the coastal zone, such as port facilities, coastal defence works, marinas and more in general urban and tourism development projects (Annex I.8; Annex II.10 (b) (e) (k) and 12 (b), (c)).

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| 2. | While the Commission does not have the intention to propose legislation to prohibit building on the seafront, the problems associated with construction in the coastal zone are being looked into.
  In 2001, the Parliament voted a budget allocation of EUR 5 million to look into the increasing problem of coastal erosion. Based on this resource, the Commission launched a major pan-European project called ‘EUrosion’ (2), which is to deliver by May 2004 policy recommendations for the Union, national, regional and local levels in how to deal in a sustainable way with coastal erosion.
  Finally, in its Chapter IV.3.b (i) the Parliament and Council Recommendation 2002/413/EC of 30 May 2002 on the implementation of integrated coastal zone management in Europe (3) invites Member States to consider in particular measures to control additional urbanisation on the coast, in the context of the national strategies for integrated coastal zone management due by February 2006. |
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2.

While the Commission does not have the intention to propose legislation to prohibit building on the seafront, the problems associated with construction in the coastal zone are being looked into.

In 2001, the Parliament voted a budget allocation of EUR 5 million to look into the increasing problem of coastal erosion. Based on this resource, the Commission launched a major pan-European project called ‘EUrosion’ (2), which is to deliver by May 2004 policy recommendations for the Union, national, regional and local levels in how to deal in a sustainable way with coastal erosion.

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Finally, in its Chapter IV.3.b (i) the Parliament and Council Recommendation 2002/413/EC of 30 May 2002 on the implementation of integrated coastal zone management in Europe (3) invites Member States to consider in particular measures to control additional urbanisation on the coast, in the context of the national strategies for integrated coastal zone management due by February 2006.

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(1)  OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

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(2)  www.eurosion.org.

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(3)  OJ L 148, 6.6.2002.

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