EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/829

(2004/C 84 E/0923)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0639/04

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 March 2004)

Subject: The Torrentes de Mácara on the river Ulha (Galicia): three priceless rapids threatened with destruction by the building of a dam

In the municipal district of Antas de Ulha, close to the Santiago Pilgrims' Way the Torrentes de Mácara are threatened with destruction by the building of a dam by the Unión Fenosa electricity company. We are speaking about a natural paradise consisting of three rapids spread over a distance of three kilometres. The dam would produce no more than an insignificant amount of electricity while the Torrentes contain seven potential habitats of Community interest, which have not yet been included in the Natura 2000 network. They also house a species included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC (1)). The building of the dam was senselessly authorised by the Galician Government. Is the Commission aware of this serious threat? Is it prepared to take steps to prevent the destruction of the Torrentes natural paradise? Does it know that the Coordenadora da Defesa dos Rios (Rivers Protection Association) has lodged complaints with the Galician Government and the Galician Water Department, the Galician Ombudsman and the Spanish Ombudsman, with a view to preserving the Torrentes and other parts of the river Ulha water system? What kind of environmental impact assessment was carried out? Is the Commission taking account of the fact that the bulk of the Ulha river system — the Ulha-Deza and Sobreiral of the river Arnego water system SCIs — is included in Natura 2000 network, and that the Mácara dam, quite apart from the damage done to the Alto Ulha, will also prejudice the future working of this already protected water system? Does the Commission know that seven new dams are planned within the Ulha-Deza-Arnego water system, although there is a great deal of protest in Galicia against such a development? Does it know why precisely those sections of the rivers where the seven dam schemes are sited were excluded from the Natura 2000 network, although they also meet the Directive's criteria?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2004)

In December 1997, the Spanish authorities proposed the area known as ‘Sistema Fluvial Ulla — Deza’, (ES1140001), as a Site of Community Importance (pSCI) with a view to the constitution of the Natura 2000 Network.

This site hosts important fish species, such as sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), twaite shad (Alosa fallax) and salmon (Salmo salar), as well as the following priority habitats of Community interest:

— Habitat type 4020: Temperate Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix, and

— Habitat type 91 E0: Alluvial forest with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior.

One of the main threats for this site, as identified in the Natura 2000 standard data form, is the loss of habitats.

The Commission considers that the Spanish authorities need to propose further sites in the region of Galicia to fulfil the requirements of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora, for the Atlantic bio-geographic region. At least six types of habitats have been identified as being insufficiently represented in the Spanish proposal and Galicia has been identified as a region where new sites should be proposed. In addition, the Commission considers that the Spanish authorities should classify further sites as Special Protection Areas in the region of Galicia within the terms of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979, on the conservation of wild birds (2).

The Commission was not aware of the issues raised by the Honourable Member. For this reason, it has made representations to the Spanish authorities to ensure the correct application of environmental Community law in this case.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, as modified, OJ L 115, 8.5.1991.