WRITTEN QUESTION E-1716/99

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 September 1999)

Subject: Environmental disaster following the bombing of Pancevo

An unprecedented environmental catastrophe with disastrous consequences for human health was caused during the Balkans' conflict by the destruction by missiles of the refinery, fertiliser and petrochemical plants at Pancevo. The destruction has resulted in the release into the atmosphere of thousands of tonnes of oil, vinyl chloride, monomer, mercury, sulphur dioxide, nitric acids and trichlorodiphenyl/trichloroethane.

The enormous quantities of toxic pollutants released into the environment have found their way into the water distribution system, the ground water, the Danube and other waterways in areas hundreds of kilometres from Pancevo. Despite the partial evacuation of the population, which stood at 150 000 inhabitants prior to the bombing, there has been an alarming increase in the adverse effects on public health of the pollution caused by the bombing, which include pulmonary disorders, miscarriages, blood and nervous system disorders.

The above situation has been described by reports from specialised United Nations staff, based on inspections in the field, from environmental associations and from European journalists, most recently the Italian Fulvio Grimaldi.

1. What urgent action does the Commission intend to take in order to contain the damage that is being done to the health of people living in the area and the surrounding countries?

2. What emergency means does it intend to make available, within the framework of the Obnova programme and the recent decisions taken by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Union in Saariselka, in order to ensure a rapid clean-up in the regions already affected and those that are likely to be affected by the disaster?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1716/99, P-1840/99 and P-1871/99 given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to the reply given to Written Question E-1481/99 by Mr Manisco(1) and the reply given to Oral Question H-429/99 by Mr Alavanos during question time at Parliament's September 1999 part-session(2).

The Commission would like to add that the Regional environment centre (REC) for Central and Eastern Europe was chosen to perform the preliminary assessment of the environmental consequences of the conflict because of its ability to produce a rapid first assessment through its offices located in the countries concerned.

The political situation in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia continues to restrict access for the institutions of the Union. Therefore the Commission has been closely associated with the assessment of the environmental consequences of the war performed by the United Nations environment programme (UNEP) Balkan task force. Their final report has just been issued and concludes that the Kosovo conflict has not caused an environmental catastrophe affecting the Balkan region as a whole. The Commission is now studying the detailed aspects of this report. Looking to the future, the Commission tabled a number of proposals for potential regional environmental projects at the meeting of the stability pact working table on economic reconstruction, development and reconstruction held in Bari on 9 October 1999.

Community funding of the stability pact is still to be determined but will be directed by the guidelines for Community participation in the activities of the stability pact and its bodies adopted by the Council in September 1999. Commission funding for projects submitted to the stability pact is still to be determined, but will be directed by the guidelines for Community participation in the activities of the stability pact and its bodies adopted by the Council in September 1999 as well as the conditions which apply, under the regional approach stabilisation and association process to the use of Community funds in the countries of the region.

The Commission has not omitted environmental issues from any of the measures mentioned. Council Regulation (EC) No 851/98 of 20 April 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 relating to aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia(3) (Obnova), clearly covers environmental issues linked to reconstruction, economic recovery and development. This has not been changed by the current proposal to amend this Regulation(4), which is designed to establish a reconstruction agency for Kosovo, nor will any future proposal to amend the regulation change the current situation as regards environmental issues. The stabilisation and association agreements will cover all issues of concern in Community relations with the country in question and therefore will also cover environmental aspects. Environmental damage in Kosovo is specifically mentioned in the Commission's communication(5) on this subject. The stability pact will also cover issues such as the environment, which is regional by nature.

The Commission is unaware of any claims for compensation from Community undertakings. As NATO undertook the action, rather than the Union, compensation claims against the Union or the Commission would be difficult to imagine. In the absence of new instructions from the Council, special aid is governed through the existing framework of Community instruments.

(1) OJ C 203, 18.7.2000, p. 2.

(2) Debates of the European Parliament (September 1999).

(3) OJ L 122, 24.4.1998.

(4) COM(1999) 312 final.

(5) COM(1999) 235 final.