WRITTEN QUESTION E-2671/01

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 October 2001)

Subject: Environmental impact of the extension of Barcelona airport

Depana, an association for the defence of the natural heritage, has submitted a large number of complaints concerning the planned extension of Barcelona airport (El Prat).

This association has been working for several years on an alternative sustainable development plan for the Llobregat delta. It has now submitted its own alternative proposal concerning extension of the airport and planning strategy for the surrounding area, in line with the findings of its work over those years and with a view to minimising the impact of the airport on the area.

If this alternative plan is not taken up, a number of special protected areas and habitats of Community interest could be affected, among them the marinas of I'lla, La Volatería, El Pas de les Vaques and La Reguera de les Bogues, Can Sabadell and Can Fargues, the El Prat de Llobregat pine-forest, etc.

Is the Commission aware of the existence of this alternative plan, which is visibly more rational from the sustainable development viewpoint?

Can the Commission confirm whether Community law is being applied correctly in this case, with particular reference to Directives 92/43/EEC(1) (habitats), 79/409/EEC(2) (wild birds) and 97/11/EC(3) amending 85/337/EEC(4) on the assessment of the effects of certain projects on the environment?

It may be added that in view of the limits set by the future directive on the evaluation and management of environmental noise, the increased air traffic on the new runways would lead to higher levels of noise pollution, thus contradicting the objective of the new directive, which is to avoid, prevent or reduce the harmful public health impact of exposure to environmental noise.

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

(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

(4) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2001)

The Commission is aware of the plan to extend Barcelona airport as it has received several complaints about it. The Commission and the Spanish authorities have already exchanged letters on the subject and discussed it at several meetings.

This project must be made subject to an environmental impact assessment under the terms of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997.

The plan to extend Barcelona airport will have significant effects on the Delta del Llobregat Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds. Consequently, the Spanish authorities must take into account the obligations arising from Article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, applicable to SPAs designated under Article 4 of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds.

The Commission has received a copy of the allegations presented by the association mentioned by the Honourable Member in connection with the environmental impact assessment for the project.

The environmental impact assessment for the project is now under way. As the Spanish authorities maintain that the obligations arising from Council Directive 92/43/EEC will be taken into account, the Commission cannot at this stage assume that Community law has been infringed.

The proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise(1) aims to entrust the competent authorities in the Member States with the task of making strategic noise maps in order to assess the exposure of people to noise, inform the public about noise exposure and its effects and implement action plans to reduce noise exposure and maintain environmental noise quality where it is good. The new legislation should allow the exposure of the population to environmental noise to be reduced. However, there are no plans at this stage to set a Community limit value for environmental noise. The Member States are responsible for setting their own limit values.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.