WRITTEN QUESTION E-0837/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 March 2000)

Subject: Mining of iron-nickel at Platani in Aghia Sofia, Euboea

In May 1997 the company Larko Ltd. began operations in the region of Aghia Sofia, Euboea, including shipments of surface deposits of iron-nickel from Platani.

Given that:

- the Directorate-General for the Environment of the Ministry for the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works approved, by ministerial decision 111249/5.8.98, an environmental impact assessment by Larko undertaken by a summary procedure, i.e. without any publication of information or notification of local bodies, in violation of Directive 85/337/EEC(1),

- the director of forestry of Euboea, by decision 3243/2.11.98, ceded to the company in question 85,7 hectares of public forestry land at Platani which consists primarily of fir trees,

- the forestry inspectorate of Chalkida has granted logging rights to the company in violation of forestry prohibition No 4049/4.11.87 of the same forestry inspectorate which prohibited grazing in the fir wood of Aghia Sofia so as to allow its natural regeneration up to 2007;

- local inhabitants and regional bodies have lodged a complaint and an appeal with the Council of State in this connection;

- the operations of Larko Ltd in the region in 1998-99 damaged the road network Aghia Sofia-Psachna, due to the shipment of ore and the movement of heavy vehicles, and the damage has not been repaired;

- problems have arisen for the local ecosystem and in particular the fir wood, an area protected by the Greek Constitution, and the coast of Limniona onto which a red mud is being discharged because no facilities exist to contain the waste, and stockbreeding and tourism in the area are affected.

Will the Commission look into this matter and examine whether the appropriate environmental impact assessments have been published in accordance with the law and whether all the other measures provided by Community law have been properly implemented? What measures does the Commission intend to take if it detects violations of Community environmental legislation such as those noted above? Does it intend to call on the relevant Greek authorities to take the necessary measures in order to protect the inhabitants of the region and to restore the natural environment?

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

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2000)

The Commission did not have any information on the activities of the Larko company in Evvia (Euboea). The type of activity described by the Honourable Member is listed in Annex II to Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/11/EC(1).

As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will investigate the case to check that Community law was not infringed when the environmental impact assessment presented by Larko was approved by the Greek authorities. If the Commission finds that Greece did infringe Community law, it will then decide whether infringement proceedings should be initiated under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

(1) 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, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.