WRITTEN QUESTION E-2482/02

by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission

(6 September 2002)

Subject: Proposed construction of an airport at Cliffe Marshes, UK

The UK Government's Department of Transport has opened a national consultation procedure on the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South-East.

One of the proposals set out in the document involves the construction of a new International Airport at Cliffe Marshes, Medway, South-East England. I have received many letters of concern from my Constituents regarding this proposal.

The Marshes are a Ramsar Site, SSSI site and a protected site included in the EC Habitats Directive.

I should be grateful to hear the views of the Commission on the construction of an International Airport on the above site.

What powers does the EU Commission have to deter Member States from developing such sites?

What authorisation is required from the Commission for this development to proceed?

What would be the implications for the UK Government if they proceeded with the development?

I should be grateful for a prompt response.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2002)

The Commission is aware that the United Kingdom is considering the construction of a new international airport at Cliffe as one of its possible options for the future development of air transport in the South East of England.

Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996(1) establishes the guidelines covering the objectives, priorities and broad lines of measures envisaged in the area of the trans European transport network. These guidelines identify projects of common interest, the implementation of which should contribute to the development of the network throughout the Community. The trans-European airport network comprises airports, which should comply with the criteria set out in the guidelines. According to the South East Consultation Document, the Cliffe airport demand is predicted to be 58 million passengers per year in 2015 and in this respect the airport can be characterised as an international connecting point.

In view of Article 8 of the guidelines, environmental legislation on Community level should be taken into account when projects related to airports of common interest are developed and carried out.

The Cliffe Marshes form part of the Thames Estuary and Marshes Special Protection Area (SPA), classified under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds(2). Therefore, any development of an airport that may adversely affect this site would only be possible if it was in conformity with the procedural and substantive safeguards laid down in Article 6(3) and (4) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(3), which apply to all SPAs.

This would require an environmental assessment of the proposed development, with particular regard to its potential effects on the nature conservation values of the SPA. If this assessment shows that significant damage to the SPA would occur then it would only be permissible to proceed in the absence of alternative solutions and where there is an overriding public interest. In such cases it would be necessary to put in place compensation measures to offset the loss of habitat that would arise from the development.

As the development of an airport is a matter that falls under national competence there is no prior authorisation required from the Commission.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.